Along a scenic mountain parkway stretch of I-65 heading south, past Bowling Green and just north of the Tennessee border, in a tiny Kentucky town called Mundfordville, in Hart County, tucked on the hill above the moving Green River, a group of teenage boys formed a band in the winter of ’65.
Hearing the happening mid-sixties sounds of the Byrds, the Animals, the Beatles and the Stones, these boys got stars in their eyes and took up instruments, calling themselves December’s Children, named after the cold season upon them.
The members were:
Mike ‘Hoot’ Gibson / guitar, vox (Gibson ES 330)
Sam Goodman / lead guitar, fuzz ( Fender Telecaster)
Clint Nickols / bass (Fender)
Mike Rife / drums, vox
Honing their skills and gaining local popularity in Munfordville at the town’s teen club called ‘The Nightmare’ – the group of high school boys shortened their name to ‘The Children’ and went on to play Hart County ‘courthouse fairs’, gigs in nearby Glasgow and also competed in the State Fair in Louisville about an hour north.
With a solid high school fan base and local support, the community was pushing them to make a record. By 1968, the members were all seniors and would graduate that following summer- all except Sam who was already a few years older and had his own wheels. The band had about 50 cover songs in the pocket, mostly dialed in on current rock radio hits of the day.
Disappearing to the parent’s basement, Mike and Sam penned two original songs that year and a recording session was appointed at Atwell Studio about an hour and a half’s drive south in Lafayette, Tennessee. The band loaded their gear in Sam’s car and excitedly roared down the road. The resulting session yielded two amazing tracks, done in one take that summer of ’68.
“I Long To See Her” b/w “Lost Soul Seeker In the Rain” was released later that year on the Atwell label and was issued with a simple picture sleeve of the band with a portrait that was made in a small photography studio along the way in Glasgow. It is not known how many copies of the record were pressed. Sources say that Lorne Atwell would often only have 100 run pressings done of the secular groups that came through the door, as Atwell was mostly a gospel/country label. The group never had any other draft or sketch of another original song, but stayed active as the Children until around ’72. Nonetheless, the two sides made for Atwell that summer have forever set them in garage punk unknown history stone.
The Children in December 1968, from the 1969 Hart County High School yearbook
Mike Gibson still lives in Mundfordville and continues to write and perform contemporary christian music. Many thanks to him for sharing his memories of the band from which this article was produced and for the photo from the class of ’69 Hart Co. High School yearbook that shows the band in action (Christmas of ’68).
Mike Rife died in Mundfordville in 2011.
The other band members are still residing in Kentucky, and were unable to be contacted for this article.
Extra special thanks to John Freeman, mayor of Mundforville for sharing his memories, sourcing the record and arranging the interview with Hoot.
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.
IVAN SINCLAIR & THE SYSTEM SOUL BAND:
Ivan Sinclair – lead vocals
Mike Piggott – lead guitar/violin
Bob Holt – bass (replaced by Kevin McCarthy)
Jim Hawkins – keyboards
Bill ? – saxophone
Chas Cheetham – saxophone
Mike ‘Shippy’ Shopland – drums
The band go ‘psychedelic’ in late 1967. With a photographer making up the numbers in the band’s line-up
23 April 1966 – La Bamba, Tunbridge Wells, Kent with John Brown’s Bodies (Kent & Sussex Chronicle) Billed as The System Soul Band
17 June 1966 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with The Triffiks (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as The System Soul Band
24 December 1966 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with The Inspiration and Shotgun Wooley Walker and Mick Bradford (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as The System Soul Band
18 March 1967 – New Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed As System Soul Band
8 April 1967 – Crawdaddy, Casino Ballroom, Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker) Billed as The System Soul Band
16 April 1967 – Crawdaddy, Casino Ballroom, Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker) Billed as The System Soul Band
10 June 1967 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk with Pink Floyd (Mike Piggott memories)
13 June 1967 – Norwich Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk with The Gods (Eastern Evening News)
1 July 1967 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
8 July 1967 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) Billed as St Claire Soul Band
9 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London with Calgary Stampede and The Scorpions (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System
16 December 1967 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with The Lucky Four (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
22 December 1967 – Locarno, Basildon, Essex with The Moody Blues and Marmalade (Southend Standard) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System Soul Band
30 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London with Dr Marigold’s Perscription and Alan Clark Show with Cleo (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The Soul System
In early May 1968, Piggott joined Junior’s Conquests
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.
ROBERT PLANT & THE BAND OF JOY:
Robert Plant – lead vocals
Chris Brown – keyboards/vocals
Vernon Pereira – lead guitar/vocals
Lyndon Laney – bass
Pete Robinson – drums
14 April 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
15 April 1967 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
21 April 1967 – Morgue, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
24 April 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
26 April 1967 – Casa Fiesta Disco, Crown, Stourport, Worcestershire (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book
3 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
6 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
10 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
16 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Kidderminster Times & Stourport News)
19 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book
19 May 1967 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
20 May 1967 – Co-op Hall, Worcester, Worcestershire (Worcester Evening News) Not in Barber’s book
22 May 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Omen (Express & Star)
27 May 1967 – Hen and Chickens, Langley, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
31 May 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with full supporting group (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
31 May 1967 – Bilston Town Hall, Bilston, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
5 June 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Warren Davis Monday Band and Edwin Starr (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
10 June 1967 – Bilston Town Hall, Bilston, West Midlands with Shooting Stars (Express & Star)
18 June 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Whisky Mac (Kidderminster Times & Stourport News)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 June 1967 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Kidderminster & Stourport News)
25 June 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Track (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
3 July 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
4 July 1967 – Malvern Hippie Festival, Malvern, Worcestershire (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
14 July 1967 – Higham Ferres New WMC, Higham, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
16 July 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham, West Midlands (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 July 1967 – Chalet Country Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
22 July 1967 – Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with Derek Bruce & His Show Band (Worcester Evening News) Not in Barber’s book
23 July 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Shooting Stars (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
24 July 1967 – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
26 July 1967 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
28 July 1967 – The County Arms, Blaby, Leicestershire (Leicester Mercury)
29 July 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
30 July 1967 – Gig in Coventry (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy) Final gig by the first version according to Barber.
Pereira, Brown and Robinson formed a rival, second version while Plant put together another line-up together with members from Wolverhampton band, Paper. On 1 October, Pereira’s version had to change name to The Good Egg (Harry Barber)
Robert Plant – lead vocals
John Elston – lead guitar
Dave Evans – rhythm guitar
Pete Bowen – bass
Steve Taylor – drums
Image may be subject to copyright
5 August 1967 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The UK Bonds (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
6 August 1967 – Tudor Club, Craven Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
12 August 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph) Not in Barber’s book
Thanks to Jake Beatson for the photo and confirmation
14 August 1967 – Town Hall, Pitlochry, Scotland with The Rite Tyme (Fabulous 208/Concert advert)
15 August 1967 – Palace Ballroom, Aberdeen, Scotland with The Rite Tyme (Aberdeen Evening Express)
16 August 1967 – Douglas Ballroom, Aberdeen, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
17 August 1967 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
18 August 1967 – Victoria Hall, Dunblane, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
19 August 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, Wales with The Clockwork Motion (Port Talbot Guardian)
19 August 1967 – Empire Ballroom, Neath, Wales with Barnaby’s Vision (Port Talbot Guardian)
24 August 1967 – Palais De Danse, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (Fabulous 208
25 August 1967 – Severn Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Fabulous 208)
25 August 1967 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Montanas, The Staffords and Maddening Crowd (Express & Star)
26 August 1967 – Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire (Fabulous 208)
27 August 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
27 August 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
28 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
28 August 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Pesky G and Group Therapy (Birmingham Evening Mail/Redditch Indicator) Not in Barber’s book
30 August 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
1 September 1967 – Cofton Country Club, Cofton, West Midlands with Virus (Birmingham Evening Mail/Redditch Indicator)
Image may be subject to copyright
2 September 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham with Delroy Good-Good Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
Record Mirror from 2 September 1967, page 10 has a picture and story on the band
Photo: Record Mirror. Image may be subject to copyright
3 September 1967 – Cavalier Club, Warwick, Warwickshire (Fabulous 208)
4 September 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Express & Star)
7 September 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Hereford, Herefordshire (Fabulous 208)
8 September 1967 – Yeoman Club, Stafford, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
9 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Fabulous 208)
10 September 1967 – Olympia Ballroom, Cromer, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
10 September 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Flowers (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
19 September 1967 – Empire Ballroom, Neath, Wales (Fabulous 208)
20 September 1967 – Cofton Country Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
21 September 1967 – Ringway Club, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
22 September 1967 – Town Hall, Kendal, Cumbria (Fabulous 208)
23 September 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
25 September 1967 – Magpie Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
30 September 1967 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Fabulous 208)
1 October 1967 – Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)
2 October 1967 – Magpie Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
3 October 1967 – Jazz Cellar, South Shields, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
4 October 1967 – Ice Rink, Ayr, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
5 October 1967 – Naval Base, Arbroath, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
6 October 1967 – Victoria Hall, Selkirk, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
7 October 1967 – Miners’ Welfare Institute, Kirconnel, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
8 October 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
9 October 1967 – Burma Ballroom, Kirkcaldy, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
11 October 1967 – Mr Magoos, Edinburgh, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
13 October 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Barnstaple, Devon (Fabulous 208)
14 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band and Haig and Al Capone (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
14 October 1967 – Bent-Jade Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
15 October 1967 – Crofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyrightImage may be subject to copyright
The Birmingham Evening Mail from 18 October 1967, page 3 has a story and picture on Robert Plant
19 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Haig and Al Capone (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
21 October 1967 – Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
22 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
22 October 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Candy Stripes (Redditch Indicator) Barber says the group then embarked on a Scottish tour
In early November 1967, Fabulous 208 says Robert Plant offered his group’s services free of charge to the Chinese Charge D’Affairs
Robert Plant – lead vocals
Kevyn Gammond – lead guitar/vocals
Paul Lockey – bass/vocals
Chris Brown – keyboards
Paul Brittle – drums (soon replaced by John Bonham ex-Way ofLife)
3 November 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall with The Atlantic Rollers (Fabulous 208/West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 November 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Atlantic Rollers (Cornish Guardian) Not in Barber’s book
5 November 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)
19 November 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Cresters (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book) Not in Barber’s book
20 November 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Good Egg (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
23 November 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands with Felice Taylor and The League of Gentlemen (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy/Birmingham Evening Mail)
23 November 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Felice Taylor and The League of Gentlemen (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy/Birmingham Evening Mail)
Image may be subject to copyright
24 November 1967 – BSA Ballroom, Small Health, Birmingham with John Street (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy/Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo from David Rigg
26 November 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Amber World (Cumberland News)
3 December 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
6 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Dorset Evening Echo) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
8 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset with The Question Marks (Dorset Evening Echo) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
9 December 1967 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express) Not in Barber’s book
12 December 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
14 December 1967 – Technical College, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)
15 December 1967 – Technical College, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)
16 December 1967 – Southampton College of Art, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)
19 December 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, London (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
21 December 1967 – Blue Horizon Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
22 December 1967 – St Michael’s Hall, Oxford (Fabulous 208)
23 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham with The Troggs (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
23 December 1967 – Ritz, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
24 December 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Nu-2-U (Redditch Indicator) Barber’s book says this was 23 December
24 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
26 December 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book
30 December 1967 – Time and Place Club, Manchester (Fabulous 208)
31 December 1967 – Mercer’s Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
1968
1 January 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bristol (Fabulous 208)
5-6 January 1968 – Purple Fez Club, Plymouth, Devon (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
6 January 1968 – Newtongrange Insitute, Newtongrange, Scotland with Pang Projection (South Midlothian Advertiser)
7 January 1968 – Warmingham Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
20 January 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
26 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
26 January 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London with Fairport Convention, Pegasus and The Flute Girl (Melody Maker)
27 January 1968 – Majestic, Wellington, Somerset (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
28 January 1968 – Fresco’s Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
29 January 1968 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
2 February 1968 – Westfield Tech College, West Ham, London (Fabulous 208)
3 February 1968 – Paddington Tech College, Paddington, London (Fabulous 208)
8 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Edwin Starr (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) Barber’s book says they played Speakeasy on this day but unlikely
11 February 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
30 March 1968 – Ewell College, Ewell, Surrey with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
5 April 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
12 April 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Erskene T Sound Specials (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
12 April 1968 – Back Room Shanty, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
19 April 1968 – Impsella Club, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
5 May 1968 – South Bank, Grimsby (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Not in Barber’s book
17 May 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star)
25 May 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Raid (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday) Not in Barber’s book
28 May 1968 – RAF Sleaford, Lincolnshire (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
29 May 1968 – Acorn Hotel, Erdington, West Midlands with Maddening Crowd (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
30 May 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Robert Plant – lead vocals
John Hill – lead guitar
Mick Strode – bass/vocals
John Bonham – drums
According to Harry Barber’s book, this line-up did a last Scottish tour around early June and then Bonham left to join Tim Rose. A final line-up came together and may be responsible for the gig below (or it could be Plant and Bonham’s version)
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.
James Royal (real name: James Nairn) (vocals)
Micky King (guitar)
Terry Goldberg (keyboards)
John Savage (bass)
Terry Mabey (drums)
1966
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Devil’s Coachmen (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next/North Norfolk News)
9 April 1966 – Norwich venue, Norwich, Norfolk with The Amboy Dukes (Eastern Evening News)
11 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 April 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Hertfordshire with Johnny Haven & The Just Five (Luton News/Welwyn Advertiser)
29 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
11 June 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Ram Jam (Melody Maker)
19 June 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Soul Agents (Melody Maker)
25 June 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Emeralds (Melody Maker)
5 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Price Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
8 July 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
8 July 1966 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire with The Rumours (Andover Advertiser)
16 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Quiet Five and Dave & The Strollers (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
22 July 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Paul & Barry Ryan, The Action, Rob Storme & The Whispers and The Ferry Boys (Lincolnshire Standard)
29 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 August 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 August 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
10 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
15 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
20 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Agents (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
27 August 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex with The Wild Oates (Essex County Standard)
3 September 1966 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
9 September 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Fadin’ Colours (Melody Maker)
10 September 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
19 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 September 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex (Essex County Standard)
24 September 1966 – Club de Danse, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
30 September 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with Robert Parker (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 October 1966 – Co-op Rainbow Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Jimmy Brown Sound (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
12 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Rockin Berries, The Bo Street Runners and The Charades (Lincolnshire Standard)
19 November 1966 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex and The Ultimate (Melody Maker)
26 November 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Principals and The Mistake (Warrington Guardian)
Around now keyboard player Terry May from The Keyes joins.
10 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Brox & The Blues Train and The Tender Trap (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 December 1966 – Tuesday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
31 December 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Birds (Melody Maker)
8 February 1967 – Kingsway Theatre, Hadleigh, Essex with Spencer Davis Group, Sounds Incorporated, The Fourmost and The Human Instinct (Essex Chronicle/Southend Standard)
22 March 1967 – Big L Party Night, Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker)
21 April 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
4 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Shell (Melody Maker)
26 May 1967 – Angel Hotel, Blue Beat Club, Godalming, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
1 July 1967 – Summer Festival, Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London with The Herd and Debonaire (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
31 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
10 September 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with James & Bobby Purify (Melody Maker)
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.
Jimmy Royal (real name: James Nairn) (vocals)
Micky King (guitar)
John Savage (bass)
Terry Mabey (drums)
Formed after Jimmy Royal had worked with The Skyways, the singer recruited Micky King, who’d spent time with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Terry Mabey, who’d previously worked with Frankie Reid & The Casuals among others.
1963
11 April 1963 – Fender Club, Kenton, Middlesex with The Barron Knights featuring Duke D’Mond (Harrow Observer)
The Continentals cut two fratty originals, “Rufus Rastas” / “Donna” on Tortoise Records. I found a copy with an inscription on the “Rufus Rastas” label “First copy to Jim McKee, Oct. 12, 1965 … Joe Doll, President, Tortoise Records”.
I wrote to Mr. Doll and he while he didn’t recall Jim McKee, he replied,
I was president (and janitor, too!) of Tortoise Records. I began college at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio in 1963, then transferred to U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1966 to complete my Electrical Engineering degree.
I most likely met the Continentals when they were entertaining at one of the numerous fraternity/sorority parties in Delaware. Too bad, I have no recollection or documentation of the band members. I do remember the general parameters of the recording session with The Continentals, at the WSLN studios in Delaware, OH, north of Columbus. I also remember thinking at the time that their “Rufus Rastas” made a pretty good side. I don’t think we did a test pressing, so what you found was probably the top copy in the shipment from the pressing factory.
When it was over, they departed with their box of pressings and we had no further contact.
Tortoise Records was named for the very first band on the label, the Turtles, with their “Pungfoo Watusi” from 1964:
“Pungfoo Watusi” was the not-very-carefully-conceived B side of “Pungfoo”. It was the first record I produced.
“Pungfoo” originated with me and some fraternity brothers fooling around with a piano, sax, and drum set in the parlor of our fraternity house. We whimsically called ourselves Tuggy and the Turtles. The original title and lyric was “Fungu”. It was a made-up word, but someone thought that meant something bad in another language. One unreleased recording is “Fungu” recorded on cheap equipment in the fraternity house.
The record was taped at Fortune Studios in Detroit. I played piano, whistled, and hollered into some sort of trash can. Jim Guiness played saxophone. Our usual drummer, “Tuggy,” could not make it, so we picked up a drummer in Detroit. That’s why the group name is just The Turtles. A couple others assisted with clapping, which I believe we overdubbed.
I had done some work for the [Fortune] studio the previous summer, and they allowed me to use it without charge. I didn’t do a lot of work there, just came in to help them adjust and maintain their equipment from time to time.
Frank Uhle, who took on the project to do a 50th Anniversary re-release of the Beau Biens record, at one time contemplated a vinyl album that would contain some unreleased material. I have about a half hour of covers recorded by the Mark V, a pretty good rock band that played fraternity/sorority parties at Ohio Wesleyan. I recorded them in the WSLN studios, like the Continentals. There was an outfit called the Crystal Set Radio Band for whom I taped several tunes, originals I believe, in the WCBN studios. Ken Phillips, a U of M student, recorded with a small group a couple of tunes he had written and had them pressed as a demo record.
Joe Doll would become a DJ at WCBN at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he would record the Aftermath for Tortoise, and the Beau Biens for Malibu Records. For more info please look at Joe’s website.
Tortoise Records discography:
Tortoise T 64001 – Turtles “Pungfoo” / “Pungfoo Watusi” (both by Joe Doll)
Tortoise T-66003 – Aftermath – “Messing With the Kid” / “Bury My Body” (Campbell, Connelly)
Malibu MB-67001 – Beaubiens (aka Beau Biens) – “Times Passed” (arr. by Salvo & Palazzolo) / “A Man Who’s Lost” (both by Kleene & Tapert, Linnoah Music BMI, produced by Joe Doll). The Beau Biens were Tom Kleene, Don Tapert. Tom Hartkop, Jim Masouras and Rick Fine.
A special thank you to Joe Doll for his help answering my questions and allowing me to quote him.
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Photo may be subject to copyright
Davey Sands – lead vocals
Howard Alexander (aka Shaffer) – lead guitar
Peter James – bass (replaced by Len Hawkes)
Chris Daryl – keyboards
Ian Barry – drums (replaced by Ian Warner after first single)
1965
Boyfriend 27 February 1965. Photo may be subject to copyrightPhoto may be subject to copyright
Davey Sands & The Essex were featured in the Surrey Comet’s 12 June 1965 issue (see above)
Photo: Surrey Comet article (see above). Photo may be subject to copyright
4 July 1965 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)
9 July 1965 – Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Town Football Ground, Whaddon, Gloucestershire with Sonny Childe & The Elders, The Magic Moments, The Mirage, The Talismen and The Woodlanders (Gloucester Citizen)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 July 1965 – Swindon Athletic Ground, Swindon, Wiltshire with Sonny Childe & The Elders, The Magic Moments, The Mirage, The Talismen and The Woodlanders (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 August 1965 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (Cambridge News)
5 September 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
9 September 1965 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Bedfordshire Times)
17 September 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Stockport County Express)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 September 1965 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The Preachers (Cambridge News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 September 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Invaders (Lynn News)
2 October 1965 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London with the Eastsiders (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian)
13 November 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Defiants (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
31 December 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Lonely Ones (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1966
1 January 1966 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex with Curtis & Co and The Mark Four (Essex County Standard)
15 January 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
22 January 1966 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Just Five (Sussex Express)
24 January 1966 – Co-Op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with The Cyclons (Birmingham Evening Mail)
29 January 1966 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich with Yes and No (Eastern Evening News)
30 January 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Roulettes (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
12 February 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Poor Boys (Maidstone Gazette/Kent Messenger)
20 February 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Ye Kingwaymen (Eastern Evening News)
27 February 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
11 March 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
18 March 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Fenmen and The Fuzz-Bangs (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
19 March 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Original Dyaks (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
20 March 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
26 March 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Clockwork Oranges (Maidstone Gazette)
3 April 1966 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with Andy Field & The News (North Norfolk News)
19 April 1966 – Co-Op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with The Cellarmen (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 May 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Hi-Jacks (Eastern Evening News)
21 May 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours (East Kent Times)
22 May 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
28 May 1966 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)
29 May 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 May 1966 – ABC Promotions, Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk (Lynn News)
1 June 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
20 June 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
2 July 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
9 July 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
10 July 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
14 July 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Kinks (East Kent Times)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 July 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
16 July 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (East Kent Times) This might be the gig where Len Hawks met The Tremeloes and jumped ship
24 July 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Barons (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
There is a great story and picture on the band in Wellingborough News from 12 August 1966, page 8
13 August 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website/Hastings and St Leonards Observer)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 August 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 August 1966 – Oakham with The Kinks, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Applejacks (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
21 August 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Moody Blues (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
27 August 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support (Maidstone Gazette)
29 August 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
3 September 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
13 September 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
15 September 1966 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland (Grantham Journal)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 September 1966 – ABC Promotions, Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk (Lynn News)
26 September 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
1 October 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
12 October 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
22 October 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Applejacks (East Kent Times)
23 October 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
31 October 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
6 November 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 November 1966 – Victoria Hall, Oakham, Lincolnshire with The Hornets (Grantham Journal)
23 November 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
26 November 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 November 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Fortunes (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
3 December 1966 – El Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 December 1966 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland with Marmalade, The Tribe and The Nemkons (Grantham Journal)
16 December 1966 – Dancing Slipper Ballroom, West Bridgeford, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
17 December 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (East Kent Times)
18 December 1966 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 December 1966 – Eltham Baths, Eltham, southeast London (PACE magazine)
30 December 1966 – Victoria Hall, Oakham, Lincolnshire with The Kobalts (Grantham Journal)
31 December 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
1967
1 January 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Versions (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 January 1967 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with supporting group (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
29 January 1967 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk (North Norfolk News)
1 February 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)
12 February 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 March 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with supporting group (South East London Mercury)
11 March 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
11 March 1967 – Rave, Irchester, Northamptonshire with The Ironsides (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
12 March 1967 – The Cavern, Liverpool (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
17 March 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester with Cryan Shames with Paul and Ritchie (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 March 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
20 March 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Aces Wild (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
23 March 1967 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 March 1967 – Mr Smith’s, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 April 1967 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Irvin John Jump Band (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
19 May 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 June 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with supporting group (South East London Mercury) The band was billed as Just Too Much (ex-Davey Sands & The Essex)
According to Christopher Hjort’s excellent Strange Brew book, promoters Philip Hayward and John Mansfield opened the old inn Pantiles as a bar and music venue in July 1967 after they gave up their chain of Ricky Tick clubs.
However, Record Mirror says that it was the Cromwellian’s former managers Philip Hayward and Bob Anthony who opened Pantiles and it looks like PP Arnold & The Nice were possibly the first booking.
It is very difficult to find gigs for this venue, so would appreciate any more confirmed shows in the comments below.
Photo: Martin H Samuel
1967
20 July – PP Arnold & The Nice (Record Mirror)
11 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
2 September – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
22 September – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
3 November – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
28 November – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
8 December – Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker/Bob Hodges’ gig diary) Fabulous 208 lists The Alan Price Set
19 December – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
26 December – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
29 December – Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)
1968
19 January – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
20 January – Long John Baldry & Bluesology (Melody Maker)
28 January – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
Photo: Melody Maker
1 February – Film African Queen (Melody Maker)
2 February – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
3 February – Jimmy McGriff & His Quartet (Melody Maker)
4 February – Wee Willie Harris (Melody Maker)
8 February – Film Darling (Melody Maker)
9 February – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
10 February – Unnamed band plus records (Melody Maker)
11 February – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
13 February – The Pyramids (Melody Maker)
14 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)
16 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
22 February – Films (Melody Maker)
23 February – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
24 February – The All Night Workers (Melody Maker)
Guitarist Brian Mansell says The All Night Workers played regularly at this venue, perhaps as many as 20 times during his time with the band from October 1967 to late 1969. They also played here extensively with later line-ups in 1970-1971.
25 February – The Web (Melody Maker)
27 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)
15 September – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
20 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
27 September – The Flies (Surrey Advertiser)
28 September – The Gass (Surrey Advertiser)
29 September – Timebox (Surrey Advertiser)
1 October – Soul Bucket (Surrey Advertiser)
2 October – Chris Barber & His Jazz Band (Surrey Advertiser)
4 October – The Shevelles (Surrey Advertiser)
5 October – Old Nick’s Train Set (Surrey Advertiser)
6 October – Tony Gregory & The Counts (Surrey Advertiser)
20 October – Toast (Melody Maker)
8 November – Happy Magazine (Surrey Advertiser)
9 November – Tuesday’s Children (Surrey Advertiser) Keyboard player Bob Hodges has the band at Rush Green College in Romford this night, so must have been another band that played this evening
10 November – Ferris Wheel (Surrey Advertiser)
12 November – The Web (Surrey Advertiser)
13 November – Alex Walsh (Surrey Advertiser)
19 November – Alexis Korner (Surrey Advertiser)
20 November – Tubby Hayes (Surrey Advertiser)
3 December – Georgie Fame (Surrey Advertiser)
14 December – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
21 December – The Gods (Surrey Advertiser)
22 December – Cliff Bennett (Surrey Advertiser)
24 December – Paul Williams Set (Surrey Advertiser)
26 December – Circus (Surrey Advertiser)
28 December – The Shevelles (Surrey Advertiser)
1969
25 January – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
31 January – Paul Williams Set (Fabulous 208)
Photo: Melody Maker
9 February – Toast (Melody Maker)
21 February – The Pattern (Melody Maker)
22 February – Ruby James (Melody Maker)
23 February – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)
27 February – Film The Rebel
8 March – Old Nick’s Train Set (Surrey Advertiser)
9 March – Timebox (Surrey Advertiser)
14 March – Wishful Thinking (Surrey Advertiser)
29 March – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express
22 May – The Train (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
23 May – Ferris Wheel (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
24 May – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
25 May – The Playground (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
26 May – Cliff Bennett & His Band (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
Photo: Melody Maker
6 June – Bunkers Brain (Melody Maker)
7 June – Katch 22 (Melody Maker)
8 June – Brian Auger Trinity (Melody Maker)
17 June – Fleetwood Mac (Surrey Advertiser/Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
21 June – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
1 August – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)
31 August – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
1 September – Cliff Bennett (Time Out)
Photo: Martin H Samuel
17 October – Trifle (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
18 October – My Dear Watson (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
19 October – Ferris Wheel (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
24 October – New Formula (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
25 October – Boston Crabs (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
26 October – Zoot Money (Time Out)
28 October – Graham Bond Initiation (Melody Maker)
31 October – Timebox (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
1 November – Old Nick’s Train Set (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
2 November – Jimmy McGriff (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
7 November – Ray King Soul Band (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
8 November – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
9 November – Sir Percy Quintette (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
14 November – Katch 22 (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
16 November – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
1970
Keyboard player Ronnie Clayden says that The Kool played this venue twice, either in 1969 or 1970.
Drummer Geoff Coxon confirms that the gigs listed for Calum Bryce above and below, which were listed in manager Ted Hare’s diary without being attributed to a band, were definitely Calum Bryce.
26 December – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare’s gig diary)
1971
30 January – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare’s gig diary)
31 May – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare’s gig diary)
4 July – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare’s gig diary)
24 September – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare’s gig diary)
Photo: Martin H Samuel
19 November – Jo Jo Gunne (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
20 November – The Fortunes (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
26 November – Mother Tucker’s Rubber Duck (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
27 November – The Staple Singers (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
3 December – Crew (Martin H Samuel’s clippings)
4 December – Freddie Mac (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
10 December – Gonzalez (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
11 December – Black Velvet (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
18 December – Tony Morgan’s Muscle Power (Martin H Samuel’s poster)
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.
John Salisbury, Andy Allsup, Stuart Mead, Bobby Gee and Peter Buckner
MISTON TUAC
Guitarist Terry Munro got in touch and said that Miston Tuac started life as Clive Sheridan & The Bluestars who were formed in the Hounslow area around 1961.
The band comprised Clive Sheridan (real name Clive Dowling) on lead vocals; Terry Munro on lead and rhythm guitar; Andy Allsup on lead and rhythm guitar; Joe Miller on lead and rhythm guitar; Phil Wallington on bass; and John Salisbury on drums.
As Munro explains, the three lead and rhythm guitars would play different lead sets then revert to rhythm.
The band played pop covers, which the musicians would learn and perform the following week. However, the group also wrote some original material but it was mainly instrumentals.
Munro says that after he left in 1964, Stuart Mead joined as lead guitarist (from Jeff & The Dreamers) and they changed name to Miston Tuac.
However, Mead wasn’t photographed with the band when they were featured in the Middlesex Chronicle in early 1965 (see below).
Jeff & The Dreamers, circa 1962/1963 with Stuart Mead on guitar. Photo: Peter Buckner
Munro recalls that it was John Salisbury who came up with the name. Confusingly, during the band’s tenure, Salisbury changed his name to John Roberts.
Barry Allmark, who previously worked with The Downliners Sect, also joined as new lead singer.
Photo: Middlesex Chronicle, February 1965
The Middlesex Chronicle ran an article and photo on the band in its 26 February 1965, page 3, with the following line-up:
Barry Allmark – lead vocals
Andy Allsup – lead/rhythm guitar
Joe Miller – rhythm/lead guitar
Phil Wallington – bass
John Roberts – drums (real name: John Salisbury)
Miston Tuac, February 1965
Other members were:
Stuart Mead – lead/rhythm guitar
Peter Buckner – bass
Bobby Gee – lead vocals
Andrew Perry – drums
The band’s manager Roy Harris, who had left a message on the Ealing Club entry, and has since been in touch, confirmed that Miston Tuac were a Hounslow band.
Peter Buckner, who later replaced Phil Wallington, added that the band may have rehearsed in the Lord Palmerston in Hounslow. By this point Joe Miller had departed and the band carried on as a quintet. It seems that Barry Allmark left when Miller did.
Buckner confirms that the line-up he worked with was Bobby Gee, Andy Allsup, Stuart Mead and John Salisbury (see photo at the top).
According to the message that drummer John Salisbury left on the Ealing Club entry, Gee later died in France in a road accident.
At some point, John Salisbury (who worked under the name John Roberts) left and Andrew Perry joined on drums.
Manager Roy Harris says another group billed as Mistral-Tuac appeared on the scene but bore no relation to this band.
Photo: Boyfriend magazine, December 1964. Mistral Tuak
However, I’ve listed any gigs I have found by this band below. This other band may also have gigged as Miston Tuac (see comments below).
Selected gigs:
13 June 1964 – Attic Club, Hounslow, Middlesex with Alex Harvey Soul Band (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
Advert: Kingston and Malden Borough New
23 June 1964 – Attic Club, Hounslow, Middlesex with The Faires (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
Advert: Kingston and Malden Borough News
4 July 1964 – Attic Club, Hounslow, Middlesex with Blues By Six (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
14 July 1964 – Attic Club, Hounslow, Middlesex with Alex Harvey Soul Band (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
Advert: Kingston and Malden Borough News. Supporting Alexis Korner on 25 July 1964
25 August 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex with The Tramps (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette/Middlesex Chronicle)
30 October 1964 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Berries (http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
30 October 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette) May have played other Fridays around this time
5 December 1964 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Penny Blacks (http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
2 January 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Centre, Egham, Surrey (Staines and Egham News) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
16 January 1965 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Brokers (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
12 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
6 March 1965 – Graven Hill Theatre, Bicester, Oxfordshire with The Primitives (Oxford Mail) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
20 March 1965 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford with The Trolls (Oxford Mail) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
22 April 1965 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London with Great Expectations (Middlesex Chronicle)
29 October 1965 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Quantum (http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/) By other group, billed as Mistral Tuac
18 January 1966 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardners, Isleworth, west London with The In-Tacks (Middlesex Chronicle)
10 July 1966 – Byron, Greenford, Middlesex with Group One (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
Thanks to Peter Buckner for the band photo at the top
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 KNIGHT’S CHESSMEN:
Tony Knight (aka Tony Brown) – drums/lead vocals
Lol Coxhill – tenor/soprano saxophone
John Gummer – baritone saxophone/trumpet
Terry Martin – bass/vocals
Jeff Reed – organ
Formed in 1964 by Tony Knight and Terry Martin, who were from Wolverhampton. Lol Coxhill was a seasoned jazzer
1964
2 May 1964 – Hazell’s Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks (Bucks Advertiser) Billed as The Chessmen
23 May 1964 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Redcaps and The Telstars (Bucks Advertiser) Billed as The Chessmen featuring Jeff Read on organ
3 October 1964 – Central Club, Farnham, Surrey (Farnham Herald)
15 November 1964 – North Warnborough Village Hall, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
16 November 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book) Billed as The Chessmen
15 December 1964 – Ricky Tick, Aylesbury Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, Bucks with Rufus Thomas (Bucks Advertiser)
19 December 1964 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Rufus Thomas (Essex Chronicle)
26 December 1964 – Ricky Ticky Club, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey with The Cheynes (Surrey Advertiser)
24 April 1965 – Twin Town Youth Ball, Lynx Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts (Simon Gee research)
1 May 1965 – New Georgian Club, Uxbridge, northwest London (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
8 May 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)
15 May 1965 – Victoria Hotel, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
29 May 1965 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Dyaks (Cambridge News)
30 May 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News)
7 June 1965 – Redcar Mini Festival, Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band, The Crawdaddies (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
30 August 1965 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Long Joh Baldry, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger Trinity, The Mike Cotton Sound and The Crawdaddies (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
14 October 1965 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Herts with The Jimmy Brown Sound (Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Express)
16 October 1965 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
23 October 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News)
29 October 1965 – Penthouse Club, Bromley South, southeast London with The Penthouse Sound System (Melody Maker)
5 November 1965 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Artwoods, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Crawdaddies (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
14 November 1965 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
26 November 1965 – Hermitage Halls, Hitchin, Herts with Alan Wade & The Hawkers and The Rising Sons (Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Express)
28 November 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Around this time, Johnny Almond left to join Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and John Gummer reverted to baritone trumpet
4 December 1965 – Zambesi Club, Hounslow, west London (Middlesex Chronicle)
10 December 1965 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
16 December 1965 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and Steampacket (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
18 December 1965 – The Zambesi, Hounslow, west London (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
24 December 1965 – King Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)
27 December 1965 – Star Hotel, Croydon, south London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
1966
2 January 1966 – Ricky Tick, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/) Billed as The Chessmen
9 January 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
16 January 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Fontella Bass (Melody Maker)
6 May 1966 – Ricky Tick, Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/) Billed as The Chessmen
28 May 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
29 May 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
24 June 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester with Five Minus One (Leicester Mercury)
2 July 1966 – New Spot, Gosport, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)
9 July 1966 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire with The Shevells (Welwyn Times)
16 July 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with King Bees (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website/Hastings and St Leonards Observer)
24 July 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
29 July 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester (Fabulous 208)
31 July 1966 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Fabulous 208)
In late July Peter Carney left to join Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Liverpudlian Steve Lucas, who’d also worked with Bluesology, came in on bass briefly before Rick Eagles joined permanently
5 August 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Chessmen
Eagles, who had played with west London band, The Legends, debuted at the Witchdoctor in Catford on 6 August.
6 August 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, south east London (South East London Mercury/Fabulous 208)
6 August 1966 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Chessmen
7 August 1966 – Casino Ballroom, Leicester (Fabulous 208)
12 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
14 August 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Chessmen
18 August 1966 – Ricky Tick, Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Hertfordshire (Poster) Billed as The Chessmen
Future Procol Harum keyboard player Matthew Fisher briefly stepped in for John Carroll in time for the gig below. Fisher’s most recent band was The Hi-Fi Sounds, who’d played at Butlin’s Holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset.
29 August 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Zoot Money & His Big Roll Band, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Crawdaddies (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Fisher departed after this and briefly joined The Downliners Sect and John Carroll returned.
2 September 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Chessmen
About this time, Lol Coxhill departed to join The Gass. John Gummer also left and former Mike Rabin Band/Rockhouse members Dave Coxhill (no relation to Lol) and Stan Sulzmann came in on saxophones.
Record Mirror’s 10 September issue noted that Dave Coxhill had joined but no mention of Stan Sulzmann.
23 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
23 September 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Chessmen
24 September 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
2 October 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
3 October 1966 – Aylesbury Social Club, Aylesbury, Bucks with Patterson’s People (Ric Eagles’ gig card)
8 October 1966 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with The Verdict (Essex Chronicle)
24 October 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Voids (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
During November, the band opened the Bag O’Nails in Kingley Street, Soho.
17 December 1966 – Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales with The Cheatin’ Hearts (Port Talbot Guardian)
According to the Stage magazine, the band played the Bag O’Nails over the Christmas period with The Brian Auger Trinity and Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
1967
5 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 January 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
22 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Later this month, John Carroll landed a job with The New Pirates after Rick Eagles told his old friend Nick Simper about the keyboard player.
4 February 1967 – Roaring ‘60s, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) This was the club’s opening night
15 February 1967 – Waltham Forest Technical College and School of Art, Waltham Forest, London with The Washington DCs (Poster)
18 February 1967 – Manhole, Redhill, Surrey (Crawley Advertiser)
Soon after Rick Eagles departed and later played with The Good Earth, which later became Mungo Jerry
Starting in early March, Tony Knight’s Chessmen started working with Jamaican singer Owen Gray who’d worked with The Krew in France during 1966. Not all the shows below are billed as with Owen Gray but he was with the band until about early September 1967.
9 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
11 March 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
11 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
18 March 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Friction (Cambridgeshire Times)
19 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
25 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as with Owen Gray
27 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
2 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as with Owen Gray
3 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
8 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as with Owen Gray
8 April 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as with Owen Gray
15 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire Echo) Billed as with Owen Gray
29 April 1967 – The Thing-a-me-jig Club, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
7 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
8 May 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
20 May 1967 – The Embassy, Colchester, Essex with Mind Excursion (Essex County Standard)
21 May 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
26 May 1967 – Stoke Hole Club, Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser) Advert says they are an eight-piece
2 June 1967 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Raynes (Cheshire Observer) Billed as with Owen Gray
4 June 1967 – Hobmoor Carnaby Club, Yardley, West Midlands with The Monopoly and The Exception (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as with Owen Gray
In mid-June Terry Edmunds left to briefly work with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers but it only lasted a few weeks. Fred D’Albert joined on lead guitar. Around the same time, Stan Sulzmann left
17 June 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Apex R&B All Stars and The Gods (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
The group undertook some dates in Cornwall (late June) and played at the Piper Club in Viareggio, Italy (July).
Tenor sax player Terry Ede (ex-Jeff Elroy & The Blue Boys) remembers both and was a member during this time with Tony Knight, bass player Keith Tillman (ex-Stone’s Masonry), guitarist Fred D’Albert and Dave Coxhill. He says that Owen Gray was with them.
28 June 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Time, Soul & Motion (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
29 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Crestas (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
30 June-1 July 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall with support (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
Photo: Fred D’Albert. Left to right: Terry Ede, Dave Coxhill (hidden), Owen Gray, Tony Brown (hidden), Keith Tillman and Fred D’Albert in Italy.Photo: Terry Ede. Left to right: Terry Ede, Tony Brown (hidden) and Dave Coxhill in Italy.
Keith Tillman leaves after Italian dates and subsequently joins John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers after playing with Aynsley Dunbar. Alan Rowell from several East Anglian bands takes his place.
6 August 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
12 August 1967 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, east London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
14 August 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
19 August 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray
9 September 1967 – 007 Sun Valley Club, Dalston, north London with Sir Dees Sound (Melody Maker)
In September, Tony Knight, Fred D’Albert, Alan Rowell and Dave Coxhill joined The Cat Soul Packet and worked with the group until November.
By early 1968, the following line-up performed as The Magicians who cut a lone single for MCA ‘Painting on Wood’ c/w ‘Slow Motion’
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Disappearing to the parent’s basement, Mike and Sam penned two original songs that year and a recording session was appointed at Atwell Studio about an hour and a half’s drive south in Lafayette, Tennessee. The band loaded their gear in Sam’s car and excitedly roared down the road. The resulting session yielded two amazing tracks, done in one take that summer of ’68.
IVAN SINCLAIR & THE SYSTEM SOUL BAND:
6 August 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as with Owen Gray