Before the Buckinghams, there were the Centuries, who released one fine single on the Spectra-Sound label in 1965, “I Love You No More” b/w “Yeh: It’s Alright”.
The Centuries’ members were:
Carl Giammarese – lead guitar Nick Fortuna – rhythm guitar Curt Bachman – bass guitar and lead vocals on “I Love You No More” Gerald Elarde – drums and lead vocals on “Yeh; It’s Alright”
Listen to “I Love You No More” below. “Yeh; It’s Alright” is also good, especially Carl’s frantic guitar solo.
It’s Alright and I Love You No More were recorded by The Centuries in, I think, late 1964, at Lawrence and Western and I think it was the old St. Louis Insurance Building. My cousin Jerry Elarde was our drummer and lead singer (fab voice) … he sang It’s Alright. Our bass player, Curt Bachman, sang I Love You No More. I was the Lead Guitar player and Nick Fortuna was the rhythm guitar player. Both songs were written by Jeff Boyen (from Saturday’s Children). Jeff was part of a duo called Ron and Jeff, kind of folky, but they did early Beatles fabulously. These songs had nothing to do with The Buckinghams other than Nick and I became The Pulsations and then The Buckinghams.
Jeff Boyan was part of the Blackstones which included Curt Bachman for a time. The Blackstones would release four singles on the Invictus label, including a slightly different arrangement of “I Love You No More” (as Dalek/Engam: the Blackstones) in July, 1965. Boyan would go on to join Saturday’s Children with singles on Dunwich. Deb Music BMI published both songs, which were credited to “Geoff – Boyan”.
Carl Giammarese, Nick Fortuna and Curt Bachman would continue with a name change to the Pulsations, adding Dennis Tufano, Jon Poulos, and Dennis Miccoli and eventually becoming the Buckinghams. The Buckinghams first single would also come out on Spectra-Sound Records, “Sweets for My Sweet” / “Beginner’s Love”, before they were signed to U.S.A. Records.
Dan Belloc owned Spectra-Sound Records. The Centuries single has master numbers 4759-1 and 4760-1 while the Buckinghams has S-4617, which may indicate the Buckinghams was released first, but I am not sure of that.
For more info on Jeff Boyan and context on these bands, I definitely recommend Jeff Jarema’s interview with Jerry McGeorge of the Blackstones, the Shadows of Knight, and H.P. Lovecraft in Here ‘Tis #6, which can be found on the Internet Archive.
Photo: Keith Jellows. Clockwise from 12 O’clock: Duncan Wilkes, Rik Jones, Dave Horn, Keith Jellows, Keith Kendall, John Bartovski and Geoff
A west London band formed in mid-1966 and not to be confused with David O’List’s short-lived group of the same name who morphed into The Attack, The Soul System were originally called Four Point Five.
Formed by friends at Mellow Lane School in Hayes, the original formation comprised:
Geoff ? – lead vocals
Keith Kendall – lead guitar
John Bartovski – bass/harmony vocals
Rik Jones – organ/harmony vocals (after Bartovski departed)
Dave Horn – tenor sax
Duncan Wilkes – trumpet
Keith Jellows – drums
Kendall had started out with another Mellow Lane School group, Brian & The Fantoms but had left in 1964 to join The First Impressions (aka The Legends). In late 1965/early 1966, he departed to join Four Point Five.
Four Point Five (and later The Soul System) gigged extensively but never released any recordings.
As Four Point Five:
9 August 1967 – Drayton Hall, West Drayton, west London (Uxbridge and West Drayton Chronicle)
The Hillingdon Mirror ran an article and photo in its 15 August 1967 issue, page 2 (see above)
30 August 1967 – Hayes Town Hall, Hayes, west London (Uxbridge and West Drayton Chronicle)
The Hillingdon Mirror ran a photo of the band playing at the Town Hall Park in its 5 September 1967, page 7 (see above)
14 October 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame and The Army (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Changing name to The Soul System around late 1967/early 1968, former All Night Workers’ baritone sax player Johnny Baker joined the formation in January/February 1969.
The following month John Bartovski left and future Strawbs’ bass player Chas Cronk briefly covered the bass slot until the summer.
Rick Eagles, who’d worked with Keith Kendall in the First Impressions and The Legends during 1964-1965, and had subsequently worked with Tony Knight’s Chessmen and The Good Earth, assumed the bass position until the end of the year.
Just before Eagles’ arrival, however, Dave Horn departed to focus on his ‘A’ Levels. The group line-up remained steady until late 1969 when Baker re-joined The All Night Workers. He subsequently suggested Keith Kendall on lead guitar (who had briefly returned to Brian & The Fantoms in the interim).
Keith Jellows later played with The New Mud and also The Sweet.
Gigs at The Soul System (see comments section for more)
25 January 1969 – Club LaBamba, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Kent & Sussex Courier)
28 January 1969 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Rod Welling and guest group (Bucks Free Press)
Thanks to Keith Kendall, Dave Horn, Keith Jellows and Rick Eagles for information about the band. We’d love to hear from anyone who can add more information.
A very obscure British band who cut a rare, lone 45 “The Maze of Yesterday” c/w “Freewheel Uphill” in 1969/1970. The recordings were issued only in West Germany (Ariola), Spain (Vergara) and Sweden (Polydor). The picture sleeves depict a five-piece in the German release and a four-piece in the Spanish release, suggesting they started life as a quintet.
Judging by the song-writing credits, the group featured Gordon Neville, Michael Halpin and George J Watt.
Singer Gordon Neville subsequently sang with Alan Bown among others and was also in Scottish group Beggars Opera who recorded the song “Now You’re Gone” composed by Neville with Sellar and Watt, who I presume is the same George Watt associated with The Projection.
George Watt has confirmed that he is not the same musician who played Hammond organ briefly in The Attack in mid-1967.
We would welcome any more information on this rare band.
Jean Purretta (bottom center) in the Beachcomber, August 12, 1959
Jeannie Purretta released one single in the early ’60s on the Camsul label owned by Dick Campbell, who also wrote and produced both sides, and Artie Sullivan, who co-produced.
“If You See My Baby” is a catchy, fast number with an interesting guitar-led passage after the first verse. The recording quality is somewhat crude but helps to give the single a wall-of-sound quality, and deserves a reissue as it is currently an obscure recording.
Jeannie sings “He’s My Boy Friend” with almost a country twang.
Jeannie Purretta came from Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating from Commerce High School in 1952. The Beachcomber of August 12, 1959, published in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, has a photo and lists Jean Purretta as 1st place winner in a talent parade.
On April 27, 1960, Jean Purretta sang on three songs recorded in New York with a large group featuring Charlie Mariano, Vinnie Dean, Frank Soccolow, John Hafer, Pepper Adams, Curtis Fuller, Jerry Tyree, Burt Collins, Rick Kiefer, Chet Ferretti, Eddie Bert, Frank Rehak, Bill Elton, Mike Zwerin, Bill Barber, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers, Charlie Persip, Sal Salvador.
Some of the session appeared on Tony Zano’s Balmore LP The Gathering Place but the vocals with Jean have never been issued to my knowledge. Tony Zano was a stage name for Anthony Ferrazzano.
Dick Campbell and Artie Sullivan started Camsul Records in Worcester in 1962. In 1965 they relocated to the midwest and started CineVista Records and Andrea Dawn Music, recording in Janesville WI (Leaf Records), Sauk City WI (Cuca Records) and Chicago, IL (Universal Studios).
I asked Artie about Jeannie’s single and he wrote to me:
Jeannie Purretta was singing in local clubs at the time and we heard her sing. She was our fourth release on Camsul Records while we were living in Shrewsbury MA. We recorded her in Worcester MA at North East Recording Studio (owner Fred Holovnia). Fred later moved to Shrewsbury MA. Last I checked she was living in Shrewsbury MA. We used the band the Scarlets to back her up and Dick & I sang background.
The Scarlets was a local college band from Worcester MA that Dick & Artie hooked up with and used to back up their recordings while living in Massachusetts. Dick joined the band about a year and half after they formed. The Scarlets consisted of Peter Damanis on drums, born in Queens NY attending Clark University Worcester MA, Gordon Schultz on lead guitar from Worcester MA also at Clark University Worcester MA and John Benson on bass from Worcester Ma attending Worcester Tech.
Thank you to Artie Sullivan for the information about Jeannie and the Scarlets.
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Cherokees. Left to right: Tez Stokes, Dave Bower, Mick Sweeney, John Kirby Woollard, Jim Green and roadie Jeff Hole
Formed in Leeds, West Yorkshire as The Cherokees, the original formation comprised:
John Kirby Woollard – lead vocals
Tez Stokes – lead guitar
David Bower – rhythm guitar
Mick Sweeney – bass
Jim Green – drums
In early 1966, the group changed name to The New York Public Library and worked at the Star Club in Hamburg, West Germany
25 June 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The End and The Carl Douglas Set (Melody Maker)
30 July 1966 – Cleveland Arms, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
20 August 1966 – ABC Promotions, Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Ultimate (Lynn News)
Image may be subject to copyright
27 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Mynah Birds and The Broodly-Hoo (Melody Maker)
NYPL, top to bottom: John Kirby Woollard, Mick Ibbotson, Mick Sweeney, Dave Bower and Tez Stokes
18 September 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
Image may be subject to copyright
Around this time drummer Mick Ibbotson took over from Jim Green and appears on the band’s debut 45 “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”
Image may be subject to copyright
2 October 1966 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
28 October 1966 – 7 Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Van-Dels (Express & Star)
29 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Soul Method and The Heavenly Bodies (Melody Maker)
12 November 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, West Midlands with Zoot Money and His Big Roll Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)
18 November 1966 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire (Yorkshire Evening Post) Says formerly The Cherokees
Image may be subject to copyright
17 December 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Hush (Essex County Standard)
Image may be subject to copyright
31 December 1966 – Eastbourne Town Hall, Eastbourne, East Sussex with Lee Hawkins (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
1967
NYPL 1967, left to right: Tez Stokes, John Kirby Woollard, Dave Bower (front), Paul Servis and Topper Clay
In early 1967, both Mick Sweeney and newcomer Mick Ibbotson departed
Now based in London, former Knack drummer Topper Clay replaced Ibbotson and bass player Paul Servis joins. Servis had previously worked with Johnny Milton & The Condors before attending university
7 April 1967 – Cofton Country Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Redditch Indicator)
16 April 1967 – Kitchners, Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Kidderminster Times and Stourport News)
Image may be subject to copyright
8 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers and Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions (Melody Maker)
15 July 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Gass and Status One (Essex County Standard)
2 September 1967 – Khyber Club, Taunton County Cricket Ground, Taunton, Somerset with Combustic Show (Somerset County Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 September 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with James & Bobby Purify (Harrow Weekly Post)
29 September 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
7 October 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Georgie Fame (East Kent Times & Mail)
8 October 1967 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 October 1967 – Dollar & Discotheque, Wexham, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
Image may be subject to copyright
21 October 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham, West Midlands with Breakthru (Birmingham Evening Mail)
4 November 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
5 November 1967 – Kyrle, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
19 November 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with J J Bender SOS (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
7 December 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
8 December 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
9 December 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
10 December 1967 – Castaways, Birmingham with Kathy Kirby (Birmingham Evening Mail)
22 December 1967 – Andromeda, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
23 December 1967 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Mandy’s Movement (Crewe Chronicle)
Image may be subject to copyright
31 December 1967 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent with P P Arnold (East Kent Times & Mail)
1968
4 February 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with James & Bobby Purify and The Jaytree Organisation (Crewe Chronicle)
8 February 1968 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with James and Bobby Purify (Birmingham Evening Mail)
1 March 1968 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)
Image may be subject to copyright
20 March 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
6 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Stafforshire (Evening Sentinel)
Image may be subject to copyright
13 April 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Alan Price Set (East Kent Times)
28 April 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Around May/June Paul Servis left and joined The Parking Lot briefly
Singer John Kirby Woollard also left. David Bower moved over to bass and Clay’s former Knack band mate, Brian Morris came in on lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Image may be subject to copyright
15 June 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
29 June 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
The new formation records two 45s “Got To Get Away” and “Love Me Two Times” and also unreleased material
NYPL, 1968. Clockwise from top: Tez Stokes, Dave Bower, Topper Clay and Brian Morris
20 July 1968 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with Herb of Grace (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
30 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Image may be subject to copyright
Melody Maker says that the group went to Belgium and Holland on 16 September. It also says they will take in a promotional trip to Norway. The article adds that they will undertake their first US tour on 16 February 1969 with six weeks of dates.
14 September 1968 – Nottingham University, Nottingham (Melody Maker)
2 October 1968 – Manchester University, Manchester (Melody Maker)
5 October 1968 – Bristol University, Bristol (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
10 October 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
12 October 1968 – Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire (Melody Maker)
19 October 1968 – Hull University, Hull (Melody Maker)
2 November 1968 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with The Peter Croft Blues Band (Eastern Evening News)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 November 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
3 December 1968 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
13 December 1968 – Brockley County School, Brockley, southeast London with The Mojos (South East London Mercury)
1969
12 January 1969 – Downbeat Club, the Swan, Maldon, Essex (Essex Chronicle)
1 February 1969 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Finders Keepers (Warrington Guardian)
18 March 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, west London (Hounslow Post)
10 July 1969 – The Revolution, central London (possibly with Kenny Rogers & The New Edition) (Melody Maker)
NYPL, 1969, left to right: Topper Clay, Dave Bower, Tez Stokes and Pete Morrison
In August 1969, singer Peter Morrison took over from Brian Morris
Image may be subject to copyright
30 August 1969 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with The Crescents (Bucks Free Press)
Thanks to John Kirby Woollard, Tez Stokes, Topper Clay, David Bower and Peter Morrison for photos
I don’t have much info on the Coming Generation who released one single in 1969 on the King Town label. Jim Du Bois wrote “Tell Me Now”, and Ed Barnhart wrote “This Troubled Life”.
The band seems to have been a quintet or sextet, with organ and smooth harmony vocals. They were indeed from Kingston, New York, as noted on several ads for shows in the Kingston Daily Freeman beginning in 1967 and ending in 1970. A sample of their shows include:
1967 – Sportsmen’s Park, Rosendale and the Viking Lounge on Glasco Turnpike, High Woods
The Coming Generation opening for Fire & Ice, March 27, 19701968 – The Tropical Inn, Port Ewen
1969 – 1970 – the Pleasure Yacht, Eddyville
December 31, 1969 – the Creamery at Wiltwyck Village, Esopus with Jay and the Techniques
1970 – Thunderbird Inn, Route 9W, Saugerties
March, 1970 – Thunderbird Inn with Fire and Ice (could this be Auggie Bucci’s group, with singles on Capitol and Crazy Horse?)
Runout vinyl has no markings other than 0024-A/B, but this numbering and the label design indicates it was recorded at Kennett Sound Studio in Kinderhook, NY.
Despite the labels saying copyright ’69, I haven’t found any registration for these songs.
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Tuesday’s Children in Fabulous 208, July 1967, shortly before Phil Cordell left for a solo career. Image may be subject to copyright
TUESDAY’S CHILDREN
Formed in mid-1966 from the ashes of The Prophets the original line-up comprised:
Phil Cordell (lead vocals, guitar)
Mick Ware (vocals, guitar)
Paul Kendrick (bass)
Derrick Gough (drums)
1966
Photo: Record Mail, September 1966. Image may be subject to copyright
1 October 1966 – New Spot, Gosport, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)
14 October 1966 – Garry Owen Club, Hammersmith, west London (Fabulous 208)
15 October 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
12 November 1966 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)
10 December 1966 – Baths, Leyton, London (Fabulous 208)
1967
14 January 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London (Fabulous 208)
20 January 1967 – Windmill Hall, Upminster, east London (Fabulous 208)
4 February 1967 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with The Attack (Fabulous 208)
17 February 1967 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey with The Next Move (Surrey Advertiser)
Image may be subject to copyright
11 March 1967 – Bal Tabarin, Downham, southeast London with the Collection (South East London Mercury)
22 March 1967 – Big L Party Night, Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The James Royal Set (Melody Maker)
23 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (Fabulous 208)
24 March 1967 – Miners’ Club, Ripley, North Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
25 March 1967 – Anchor Hotel, Skegness, Lincolnshire (Fabulous 208)
7 April 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (Fabulous 208)
28 April 1967 – Europa Hotel, Grosvenor Square, central London (Fabulous 208)
24 May 1967 – Wellington Manor Country Club, Crowthorne, Berkshire with Grapefruit (Reading Evening Post)
26-27 May 1967 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, London (Fabulous 208)
8 June 1967 – Elizabethan Hall, Dagenham, London (Fabulous 208)
9-15 June 1967 – Pier, Ryde, Isle of Wight (Fabulous 208)
29 July 1967 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, London (Fabulous 208)
In early August, Phil Cordell left for a solo career.
Hammond organist Bob Hodges joined. Earlier in the year, he’d played with The Attack.
The group also added two sax players: Roger Davies, who was Kinks siblings’ Ray and Dave’s cousin, and Liverpudlian Phil Kenzie, who had recently played with Sonny Childe & The TNT
12 August 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
26 August 1967 – Lotus Ballroom, Forest Gate, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
During September trumpet player Hilary Roy did four gigs with the band
2 September 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, London (afternoon) (Bob Hodges’ diary)
7 October 1967 – University of Sussex, Falmer, West Sussex with Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Fairport Convention and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (Bob Hodges’ diary)
13 October 1967 – According to Bob Hodges’ diary, the band attended ABC Film/TV Studios, Teddington
14 October 1967 – Victoria Hotel, Dartford, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 October 1967 – Foseco Sports & Social Club, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Bob Hodges’ diary/Tamworth Herald)
20 October 1967 – Youth Club, St Ives, Cambridgeshire (Bob Hodges’ diary)
21 October 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle/Bob Hodges’ diary)
27 October 1967 – St Barnabus Youth Club, Woodford, Essex (Bob Hodges’ diary)
28 October 1967 – Queen Elizabeth College, Campden Street, Kensington, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
6 November 1967 – Tabbys Discotheque, Ealing, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
9 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Tages (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live/Bob Hodges’ diary)
10 November 1967 – Windmill Hall, Upminster, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
11 November 1967 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (Southend Standard) This gig is not in Bob Hodges’ diary
Image may be subject to copyright
11 November 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Modes Mode (Bob Hodges’ diary) Gig lists six piece
12 November 1967 – Middleton Hotel, Middleton, Essex (Southend Standard) This gig is not in Bob Hodges’ diary so may not have happened
Around this time sax players Roger Davies and Phil Kenzie departed, the latter to briefly work with PP Arnold and then with Freddie Mack. Davies may be the same musician who subsequently played with The Warren Davis Monday Band.
17 November 1967 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
19 November 1967 – Silver End Hotel, Silver End, Essex (Bob Hodges’ diary)
24 November 1967 – Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
26 November 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
29-30 November 1967 – According to Bob Hodges’ diary, the band attended Pinewood Studios to film “The Ugliest Girl In the World” with actor Nicholas Parsons
1 December 1967 – Victoria and Bull Hotel, Dartford, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
2 December 1967 – Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Bob Hodges’ diary)
3 December 1967 – Tiffany’s, Shaftsbury Avenue, W1, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
7 December 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho London (Melody Maker/Bob Hodges’ diary)
12 December 1967 – Civic Hall, Corby, Northampshire with The Minor Portion Roll Band (Melody Maker/Bob Hodges’ diary/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
14 December 1967 – Palais Ballroom, Nottingham (Bob Hodges’ diary)
15 December 1967 – Bear and Key Hotel, Whitstable, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
23 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and The Wild Angels (Bob Hodges’ diary/Melody Maker)
24 March 1968 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire (Bob Hodges’ diary)
30 March 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Root and Jenny Jackson with The Hightimers (Cambridge News) This isn’t in Bob Hodges’ diary
29 October 1968 – Revolution, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
31 October 1968 – El Grotto Club, Ilford, east London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
1 November 1968 – Shepway Youth Club, Maidstone, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
2 November 1968 – Queen Elizabeth College, Campden Street, Kensington, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
3 November 1968 – Embassy Rooms, Colchester, Essex (Bob Hodges’ diary/Essex County Standard)
9 November 1968 – Rush Green College, Romford (Bob Hodges’ diary) Surrey Advertiser has them at Pantiles in Bagshot, Surrey. They must have been replaced for this gig by another band
15 November 1968 – Rasputins, London, W1 (Bob Hodges’ diary)
Image may be subject to copyright
17 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) This is missing from Bob’s diary so perhaps they were replaced
23 November 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bedford (Bob Hodges’ diary)
26 November 1968 – Blaises, Kensington, London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
30 November 1968 – Sports Centre, Crippe Street, Maidstone, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
12 December 1968 – Greyhound Hotel, Chadwell Heath, Ilford, east London (Bob Hodges’ diary/Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express/Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
22 December 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Bob Hodges’ diary)
28 December 1968 – La Bamba Club, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Bob Hodges’ diary)
30 December 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (private charity event) (Bob Hodges’ diary)
1969
6 January 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with US Flaptop & The Cat Road Show and Headline News (website: www.45worlds.com/live) Not listed in Bob Hodges’ diary
Miltons Fingers, 1967. Clockwise from front: Milton, Bert Coupe, Mike Sinclair, Tony “Spike” Milligan and Alan Stevenson
A Scottish rock band, who later moved to Farnham, Surrey, Miltons Fingers are best known for including future Genesis drummer John Mayhew who worked with the group for a year, between 1968-1969.
The group was formed in North Berwick, Scotland in late 1965/early 1966 with the following line-up:
Milton Mclachlan – lead vocals
Tony “Spike” Milligan – lead guitar
Mike Sinclair – rhythm guitar
Bert Coupe – bass
Dave Berry – drums
Milton Mclachlan, who was studying at art college in Farnham, says the group was managed by Neil Warnock and signed to NEMS Enterprises. During their time together Miltons Fingers played at the Millstream in Farnham, Feltham R&B Club and the Overseas Visitors Club in Earl’s Court, London. The singer recalls sharing the bill with The Zombies, Deep Purple and David Bowie.
Through the Chiswick-based Norton York Agency, they also worked in West Germany. Mclachlan also remembers other European gigs in Denmark and Switzerland.
Between 1966-1970, Miltons Fingers also played regularly at Kew Boathouse (and some of the gigs are listed below).
Like early Genesis, the band went through quite a few drummers in their time together. In 1967, Alan “Frog” Ridley took over from Dave Berry. Ridley was succeeded by Alan Stevenson who then made way for John Mayhew in 1968. During Stevenson’s time with the group, Mike Sinclair left and the group continued as a four-piece.
At some point, the group cut two tracks on an acetate – “Jenny’s Mother” and “Light of My Life”.
Mclachlan remembers the group renting a seven bedroom house in Farnham and a few of Genesis used to come round and listen to the musicians rehearse before Mayhew joined them. Charterhouse school was not far away near Godalming.
After Mayhew left, the group carried on until 1970.
Miltons Fingers, 1968. Left to right: Tony “Spike” Milligan, Milton, Alan Stevenson and Bert Coupe
18-20 September 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London (Hounslow Post)
9-12 October 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London (Hounslow Post)
16-18 October 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London (Hounslow Post)
1 December 1967 – Star Palast, Kiel, West Germany with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Thin Red Line and Dick Scott & Company (Rolf Hannet’s research)
24 February 1968 – Andromeda, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
2 March 1968 – Star Palast, Kiel, West Germany with Paul Raven & The Boston Showband, Princes of Israel and The Barriers (Rolf Hannet’s research)
6 September 1968 – Andromeda, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
13 September 1968 – Andromeda, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
9 October 1968 – Westcliffe Hotel, Southend, Essex (Essex County Standard)
12 October 1968 – Centre 185, Egham, Surrey with The Skatarlites (Staines & Egham News)
8 November 1968 – Centre 185, Egham, Surrey (Staines & Egham News)
29-30 November 1968 – Wellington Manor Country Club, Crowthorne, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
The Whirlwinds, photo By George Rousell. Can anyone ID the members of the group?
Graham Rousell sent in this photo taken by his father George, of a band he believes to be the Whirlwinds from Canvey Island in Essex. Can anyone please confirm this or identify the musicians in the photo?
The Whirlwinds played the Casino Ballroom among other venues.
Members were:
Ron Gent- lead vocals Bert Pulham – lead guitar Peter Gosling – guitar Fred Ford – bass and piano Dave Scates – drums
I don’t believe they recorded. The Whirlwinds were rivals to Southend-on-Sea’s Monotones.
In 1965, Ron Gent, Bert Pulham and Dave Scates formed the Force Five which also included Pete James and Dave Osborne. The Force Five would release five singles on United Artists in 1965 and 1966, including such excellent cuts as “Baby Let Your Hair Down”, “Don’t Know Which Way To Turn”, and “Yea, I’m Waiting”.
Bert (or Brett) Pulham and Dave Scates (listed as Dave Skates) then joined with members of the Fingers to form the Crocheted Doughnut Ring for singles on Polydor and Deram in 1967 and 1968.
Note, this Whirlwinds was not the group from Manchester that included Graham Gouldman and recorded “Look At Me” / “Baby Not Like You” for His Masters Voice.
I believe Bert Pulham passed away in March of this year (2019).
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
TONY RIVERS & THE CASTAWAYS
Image may be subject to copyright: Tony Rivers & The Castaways in mid-1968 just before changing name to Harmony Grass. Featured in Record Mirror
Tony Rivers – lead vocals
Vic Larkins – lead guitar
Mickey Johnson – rhythm guitar
Ray Brown – bass
Brian Talbot – drums
Formed as The Cutaways in Dagenham, Essex in 1960 without Tony Rivers (real name: Tony Thompson), the band backed singer Bobby Rio before Rivers joined as new lead singer in late 1961. They changed name not long afterwards.
Sometime before signing a record deal with EMI, John Lyons (rhythm guitar) and Ricky West (lead guitar) took over from Johnson and Larkins respectively.
West didn’t stay long and joined The Tremeloes. Steve Scott took over lead guitar. The new formation recorded a string of singles, released on Columbia Records.
Image may be subject to copyright
3 August 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Gene Vincent & The Outlaws (Surrey Advertiser)
18 August 1963 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Stormers (Aldershot News)
Photo: Harrow Weekly Post. Image may be subject to copyright
8 December 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Searchers, Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five and Bob Charles Combo (Surrey Advertiser)
1964
4 January 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Strangers Five (Kent Messenger)
11 January 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Le Roys (Woking News & Mail)
17 January 1964 – Cast Off, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Hully-Gullys (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)
24 January 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Dinos (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
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1 February 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with two supporting groups (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
15 February 1964 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Red and Carolyn Plus Four (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)
22 February 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey with The Hop Mimers (Woking Herald)
25 February 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
29 February 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
11 April 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Beatfinders (East Kent Times)
14 April 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
18 April 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with Ricky Lee & The Hucklebucks (Lynn News)
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25 April 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Costers and The Beat Syndicate (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
1 May 1964 – 03 Beat, Ovaltine Ballroom, Kings Langley, Herts (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)
3 May 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Hideaways (Hertfordshire Express)
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16 May 1964 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Vincents (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
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29 May 1964 – Town Teen, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Forerunners (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)
30 May 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
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13 June 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Worryin’ Kind (Woking News & Mail)
18 June 1964 – Breaks Youth Club, Hatfield, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)
11 July 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Kinks and The Trends (Essex County Standard)
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13 September 1964 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Leyton & Leytonstone Guardian/Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)
22 September 1964 – Ilford Town Hall, Ilford, east London with The Concords (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
29 September 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Mike Stevens & The Dolphins (East Kent Times & Mail)
30 September 1964 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
3 October 1964 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The King Bees (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
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17 October 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Candles (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
During a Scottish tour, drummer Brian Talbot is killed in a road accident on 6 December. Drummer/singer Brian Hudson takes over the drum stool during early 1965
12 December 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Devil’s Coachmen (Lynn News)
9 January 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Alexanders (Sussex Evening Express)
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10 January 1965 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk (Lynn News)
17 January 1965 – Cast off, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire with The Hully-Gullys (Berkhamsted Gazette)
1 February 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) According to Griggs’ book, guitarist Steve Scott announced he was leaving and the band offered him the lead guitar position, which he declined.
13 February 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Emeralds (featuring Daniel Boone) (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
20 March 1965 – Barking Assembly Hall, Barking, east London with The Corsairs and the Galleons (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
21 March 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Medway Folk Trio (Maidstone Gazette)
10 April 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Four Pennies and Cannibals Sollet (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
12 April 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)
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18 April 1965 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
19 April 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (East Kent Times & Mail)
24 April 1965 – Hi Fi Hop, Shepperton Village Hall, Shepperton, Middlesex (Woking Herald)
15 May 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Eccentrics (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
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29 May 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Them and The Concords (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
3 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
10 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Melody Maker)
11 June 1965 – The Avenue R&B Club, Green Pond Road, east London (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian)
18 June 1965 – Guildhall, Axminster, Devon with support (Bridport News)
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20 June 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Dagoes (Sussex Evening Express)
11 July 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News)
16 July 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Mark Leeman Five and The Dennisons (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
17 July 1965 – Civic Theatre, Bedford with King James, Lloyd Williams, The Triads and The En-Devers (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
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25 July 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex with The Web (Mid Sussex Times)
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29 July 1965 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)
31 July 1965 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Sons of Fred and The Charades (Essex County Standard)
7 August 1965 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire with The Byrds, Kenny Lynch, Tommy Quickly, Elkie Brook, Boz and The Bozmen, The Remo Four, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers and The Slade Brothers (Staines and Egham News/Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
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21 August 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Invaders (Lynn News)
30 August 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Herd (East Kent Times)
24 December 1965 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with support (Kent Messenger/Maidstone Gazette)
31 December 1965 – Dill Hall, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Bryan & The Brunelles (Bedfordshire Times)
1966
21 January 1966 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)
29 January 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
5 February 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Titch and Brian & The Brunelles (Lincolnshire Standard)
6 February 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London with Ed Williams Sound System (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
19 February 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Cascades (Cambridgeshire Times)
22 February 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks (Bucks Advertiser)
26 February 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Blues Syndicate (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
2 March 1966 – Stonehouse Church Hall, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
27 March 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
3 April 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Gaylords (East Kent Times) Trend and Boyfriend magazine has this also on 11 April
6 April 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn Advertiser)
15 April 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
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22 April 1966 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Angelo Six (Luton News)
23 April 1966 – Farnborough Technical College Students’ Union, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Paramounts (Aldershot News)
Around this time, singer Kenny Rowe who has previously fronted The Fifth Avenue joins on second lead vocals. Tony Harding also takes over lead guitar from Steve Scott.
The band now comprises:
Tony Rivers – lead vocals
Kenny Rowe – lead vocals
Tony Harding – lead guitar
John Lyons – rhythm guitar
Ray Brown – bass
Brian Hudson – drums/vocals
The group records a version of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”
13 May 1966 – Axminster Guildhall, Axminster, Devon (Bridport News)
24 June 1966 – Unknown venue, Hastings, East Sussex with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Unit 4 Plus 2 and The Defiants (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
25 June 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
26 June 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News)
2 July 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
3 July 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
7 July 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hants (Portsmouth News)
15 July 1966 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The New Merseys, Dave Berry, The Move, The Montanas and The Californians (Express & Star)
17 July 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
21 July 1966 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire with The Illusions (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
30 July 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Legay (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
5 August 1966 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Warrington Guardian)
7 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Factotum (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
9 August 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
13 August 1966 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Symbols (Essex County Standard)
22-24 August 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with support (Birmingham Evening Mail)
27 August 1966 – Mick’s Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express)
30 August 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s diary) The group didn’t turn up so The Fleur De Lys played all evening
Around this time Brian Hudson leaves to form The Parking Lot and former Sugarbeats drummer Geoff Swettenham replaces him
24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)
14 October 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 October 1966 – Disc Club, St Martin’s Centre, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
28 October 1966 – Conservative Club, Finchley, north London (Fabulous 208)
30 October 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
About now Tony Harding and Kenny Rowe depart and former Sugarbeats lead guitarist John Perry joins. The group also bring in another singer Martin Shaer to replace Rowe
14 November 1966 – Dancing Slipper Ballroom, West Bridgeford, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
23 November 1966 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Montanas and Harvey’s Team (Express & Star)
Geoff brings in his brother Pete on rhythm guitar/vocals from The Sugarbeats
3 December 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Kids, The Defenders, The Twilites, The Tatters and T D Backhus and The Powerhouse (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
16 December 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with The Heretics (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
17 December 1966 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Section A (Hertfordshire Express)
24 December 1966 – St George’s Hall, Exeter, Devon with The Son Set (Express & Echo)
1967
1 January 1967 – Matrix Hall, Coventry, West Midlands with The Spencer Davis Group, Jigsaw and Lovers Lot (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
3 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
13 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Time (Essex County Standard)
14 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Time & Motion (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
19 April 1967 – Hull College of Commerce Students’ Union, Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, The Amboy Dukes, The Locomotion and The Jamm (Hull Daily Mail)
22 April 1967 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Angelo 6 (Bury Free Express)
26 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Enders Ltd (Berkhamstead Gazette, Tring & District News)
27 April 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Six Across and Stevenson’s Rockets (Nottingham Evening Post)
13 May 1967 – The Union, Manchester with The Mud (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
Image may be subject to copyright
14 May 1967 – The Embassy, Colchester, Essex with The Chalfont Movement (Essex County Standard)
16 May 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall (Fabulous 208)
17 May 1967 – Gaerleon College of Education, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)
18 May 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Skewen, Wales (Fabulous 208)
20 May 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Breed (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
22 May 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Maize and The Valets (Express & Star)
25 May 1967 – Elizabeth Hall, Dagenham, east London (Fabulous 208)
28 May 1967 – 76 Club, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
1 June 1967 – Summer House, The Portway, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)
5 June 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Roman Empire, Finders Keepers and Sons and Lovers (Express & Star)
8 June 1967 – Youth Centre, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)
9 June 1967 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
10 June 1967 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London (Fabulous 208)
14 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (Fabulous 208/West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
21 June 1967 – Cook Elite Hall, Cook, Bishop Auckland, County Durham (Fabulous 208)
17 July 1967 – Civic Theatre, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Soul Caravan, The En-Devers, King James and Lloyd Williams, The Triads (Bedfordshire Times)
22 July 1967 – Garrison Ballroom, Millport, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
24 July 1967 – Town Hall, Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
26 July 1967 – Pier Bandstand, Weymouth, Dorset (Fabulous 208) Unlikely with Flamingo gig later
26 July 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
4 August 1967 – White Lion Hotel, Edgeware, north London (Fabulous 208)
4 August 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Minor Portions (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
4 August 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Melody Maker)
5 August 1967 – Civic Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire (Fabulous 208)
7 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
9 August 1967 – Vallance Ballroom, Tenby, Wales (Fabulous 208)
10 August 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, Wales (Port Talbot Guardian)
11 August 1967 – Glanmore Club, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)
12 August 1967 – Town Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (Fabulous 208)
17 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (Cornish Guardian)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ten Years After (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
29 August 1967 – Lotus Ballroom, Forest Gate, east London (Newham & Stratford Express)
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1 September 1967 – Queens Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool, County Durham with The Tony King Sound (Hartlepool Mail)
10 September 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Crawdadds (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
16 September 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)
18 September 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Wanted (Express & Star)
22 September 1967 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians, Dual Purpose, The Staffords and The News (Express & Star)
29 September 1967 – Floral Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Cityweek)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 September 1967 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Cityweek)
6 October 1967 – Cragburn Pavilion, Gourock, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
7 October 1967 – Carioca Club, Town Hall, Bearsden, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
8 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Plastic Dream (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)
12 October 1967 – Kingfisher Country Club, Wall Heath, West Midlands with The Modernairs and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)
13 October 1967 – Birmingham City College, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
14 October 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Friction (Cambridgeshire Times)
16 October 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (Fabulous 208)
21 October 1967 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Jo Jo Gunne (Streatham News)
22 October 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Harrow Weekly Post)
23 October 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with People’s People and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)
27 October 1967 – Tabernacle Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
30 October 1967 – Lyceum, Strand, central London (Fabulous 208)
4 November 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
11 November 1967 – Ilford Baths Hall, Ilford, east London with The Aldgate Pump (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
12 November 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Tiles Big Band (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
19 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with The Bee Gees, Flowerpot Men and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Melody Maker)
23 November 1967 – RAF Club, Uxbridge, west London (Fabulous 208)
24 November 1967 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
25 November 1967 – Shaftsbury Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Fabulous 208)
Around this time, the Sweetenham brothers and John Perry leave to form Grapefruit and Martin Shaer also departs. Disc & Music Echo’s 16 December issue confirms the split.
Tony Rivers rebuilds the group, retaining Ray Brown and bringing Tony Harding and Kenny Rowe (who has recently produced The Playground) back
Tony Rivers – lead vocals
Kenny Rowe – lead vocals
Tony Harding – lead guitar
Ray Brown – bass
Bill Castle – drums/vocals
16 December 1967 – Lotus Club, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)
17 December 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Shell Shock Show and The Martells (Essex County Standard)
30 December 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Evening Sentinel/Crewe Chronicle)
1968
Image may be subject to copyright
6 January 1968 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Hustling Kind (Hastings & St Leonards Observer)
26 January 1968 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Alan Price Set, The Soul Seekers, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)
5 February 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
13 February 1968 – Pyjama Dance, Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, south Wales with Simon Dupree &The Big Sound, The Spencer Davis Group, Fleetwood Mac and The Dream (South Wales Evening Post)
23 February 1968 – Avery Hill College, Eltham, southeast London with The Information and The Joker 5 (South East London Mercury) This may be a different date
29 March 1968 – The Plaza, Bedford with Spell, Acceleration, Spectre Powerhouse, Tribe Five, John Williams and Jackson Mornay (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 March 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with Fusion (Somerset County Gazette)
4 April 1968 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland with Max Baer & The Chicago Setback and Privy Seal (Grantham Journal)
7 April 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex (Evening Argus)
Image may be subject to copyright
13 April 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Provokers (Cornish Guardian)
15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Happy Magazine and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)
17 April 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Marmalade (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
20 April 1968 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with Penny Peeps (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
29 April 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
The Hillingdon Mirror ran a story and a photo of Tony in its 30 April 1968, page 11. The article mentions the new formation with Kenny Rowe (vocals); Tony Harding (lead guitar/vocals); Tom Marshall (rhythm guitar/vocals); Ray Brown (bass); and Bill Castle (drums/vocals)
3 May 1968 – Brighton Students’ Festival Ball, Hotel Metropole, Exhibition Hall, Brighton, West Sussex with Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, Washington DCs, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann and P P Arnold (West Sussex Gazette)
18 May 1968 – Hoffman Apprentices’ Association, Hoffman Ballroom, Chelmsford, Essex with The Roulettes (Essex Chronicle)
24 May 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Swansea, south Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and The Love Sculpture (South Wales Evening Post)
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
Before the Buckinghams, there were the Centuries, who released one fine single on the Spectra-Sound label in 1965, “I Love You No More” b/w “Yeh: It’s Alright”.
Jeff Boyan was part of the Blackstones which included Curt Bachman for a time. The Blackstones would release four singles on the Invictus label, including a slightly different arrangement of “I Love You No More” (as Dalek/Engam: the Blackstones) in July, 1965. Boyan would go on to join Saturday’s Children with singles on Dunwich. Deb Music BMI published both songs, which were credited to “Geoff – Boyan”.
A very obscure British band who cut a rare, lone 45 “The Maze of Yesterday” c/w “Freewheel Uphill” in 1969/1970. The recordings were issued only in West Germany (Ariola), Spain (Vergara) and Sweden (Polydor). The picture sleeves depict a five-piece in the German release and a four-piece in the Spanish release, suggesting they started life as a quintet.
