The Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, southeast London was a popular live music venue during the 1960s. I’ve started to compile a list of artists that performed there and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as any memories of the pub. This is an incomplete listing
1964
12 April – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
17 May – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
31 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)
21 June – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
5 July – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)
23 August – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)
12 September – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
18 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
29 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
6 December – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)
1965
All of the listings below for 1965 are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.
I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.
Peter Hicks, who was a member of The Down & Outs, has a newspaper clipping of his band in the scrapbook section of his website which notes that the band opened for The Animals, The Mark Leeman Five and The Moody Blues at this venue (most likely 1965).
3 January – The Graham Bond Organisation
10 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
17 January – Tony Knight’s Chessmen
24 January – The Downliners Sect
31 January – The Spencer Davis Group
7 February – The Moody Blues
14 February – The Animals
21 February – The Graham Bond Organisation with The Epitaph Soul Band (confirmed by article in Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)
28 February – Buddy Guy with Rod Stewart and The Soul Agents (with Rod Stewart)
7 March – The Mark Leeman Five
14 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
21 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
28 March – The Downliners Sect
4 April – The Moody Blues
The Just Blues appeared on one occasion when The Moody Blues played here (see John Farrier’s comment below)

11 April – Long John Baldry
18 April – Alex Harvey Soul Band
25 April – The Graham Bond Organisation
2 May – The Five Dimensions and The Loose Ends
9 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
16 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
23 May – Memphis Slim and Alex Harvey Soul Band
30 May – The Mark Leeman Five
6 June – Jack Dupree with The Mike Cotton Sound
13 June – The Graham Bond Organisation
20 June – The Artwoods
19 June – Jazz & Blues Festival with Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers, Epitaph Soul Band and The Loose Ends (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)


27 June – The Five Dimensions
4 July – Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart
11 July – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
18 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
25 July – The Spencer Davis Group and The Epitaphs Soul Band
The Epitaphs Soul Band featured Mick Fletcher on keyboards who went on to The New Generation (briefly Jimmy Cliff’s backing band), The Hamilton Movement (1966-1967) and The Amboy Dukes (1969-1970).
Earlier in their career, guitarist Del Grace was a member. He went on to The Big Wheel before joining Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.
Andy Clark also played sax with them in late 1965 before switching to organ and joining The Big Wheel in spring 1966. He later played with The Fenmen (aka Kindness), Sam Gopal, VAMP and Clark-Hutchinson among others.
1 August – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones
8 August – Alex Harvey Soul Band
15 August – The Graham Bond Organisation
22 August – The Blond Bombshell (from the US)
29 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
5 September – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
12 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
19 September – Steampacket
26 September – The Graham Bond Organisation
3 October – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
10 October – Alex Harvey Soul Band
17 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
24 October – The Spencer Davis Group
31 October – T-Bone Walker
7 November – Steampacket
14 November – The Graham Bond Organisation
21 November – The Shevelles
28 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
5 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
12 December – missing
19 December – missing
26 December – missing
1966
All of the listings below for 1966 are from South East London Mercury unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.
I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.
2 January – missing
9 January – The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)
16 January – missing
23 January – missing
30 January – The Spencer Davis Group
6 February – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band
13 February – The Graham Bond Organisation
The Big Wheel Soul Band opened for Graham Bond’s group at some point
20 February – missing
27 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
6 March – The Action
13 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
20 March – Melody Maker notes “Great blues singer from the US” (could this be John Lee Hooker?)
27 March – Steampacket
3 April – missing
10 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
17 April – Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band
24 April – The Moody Blues
1 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
8 May – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound
15 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
22 May – missing
29 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
5 June – The Downliners Sect
12 June – Steampacket
19 June – The Shotgun Express
26 June – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror)
3 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Eric Silk’s Stompers
10 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
17 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
24 July – The Alan Price Set (Fabulous 208 and Record Mirror)
30 July – The Graham Bond Organisation
7 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)
14 August – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound
21 August – The Shotgun Express
28 August – missing
4 September – The Moody Blues
11 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
18 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
25 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers
2 October – The Shevelles
9 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
16 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
23 October – The Mike Cotton Sound
30 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
6 November – missing
13 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
20 November – The Downliners Sect
27 November – Guy Darrell
4 December – missing
11 December – Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)
18 December – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
Fabulous 208 has Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band on 18 December
24 December – Mike Cotton Sound with support
1967
Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz.
I have listed the sources next to the entries. There are indications from some of the dates below that rock gigs occasionally happened on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well.
1 January – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)
8 January – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)
15 January – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)
22 January – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker)
29 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)
5 February – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)
12 February – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
19 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)
26 February – Long John Baldry with Bluesology (Melody Maker)
5 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)
12 March – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
14 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)
19 March – Cliff Bennett’s Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)
26 March – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)
2 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)
9 April – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)
16 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
23 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)
25 April – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)
30 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)
7 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)
14 May – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Melody Maker)
21 May – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
28 May – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)
30 May – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’s diary – this was a Tuesday)
4 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary) South East London Mercury has The Coloured Raisins
11 June – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary)
18 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)
25 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
2 July – The Coloured Raisins with Honey Darling and Earl Green (Phil Mackie’s diary)
9 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
16 July – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)
23 July – Mike Cotton with Lucas (Phil Mackie’s diary)
30 July – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)
6 August – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology) (Phil Mackie’s diary)
13 August – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)
20 August – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
27 August – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)
3 September – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)
10 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
17 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Phil Mackie’s diary)
24 September – Freddie Mack Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)
1 October – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)
8 October – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)
15 October – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)
22 October – Ben E King (Phil Mackie’s diary)
29 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
4 November – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
7 November – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)
12 November – Dantalion’s Chariot (Phil Mackie’s diary)
19 November – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
26 November – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)
3 December – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)
10 December – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)
17 December – Peter’s Green Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)
24 December – The Shevelles and Terry Lightfoot Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)
31 December – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set and Alan Elsdon’s Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)
1968
Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz. I have listed the sources next to the entries.
7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
14 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)
21 January – The Freddie Mack Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)
28 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Phil Mackie’s diary)
4 February – The Cliff Bennett Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)
11 February – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)
18 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
25 February – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)
3 March – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
10 March – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)
17 March – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)
24 March – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)
31 March – The Impressions (Phil Mackie’s diary)
7 April – The Jeff Beck Group featuring Rod Stewart (Phil Mackie’s diary)
14 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
15 April – The Piccadilly Six (Swiss band) (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)
21 April – The Showstoppers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
28 April – The Cliff Bennett Band
5 May – Spooky Tooth (Phil Mackie’s diary)
9 May – The Counts (Melody Maker – this was a Thursday)
12 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)
16 May – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)
19 May – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
23 May – The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)
26 May – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)
30 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)
2 June – Lucas with The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)
9 June – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)
16 June – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers with The Satin Dolls (Phil Mackie’s diary)
23 June – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)
30 June – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)
7 July – Diane Ferraz & The Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
14 July – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker)
21 July – Tony Gregory & The Counts (Melody Maker)
28 July – Traffic (Melody Maker)
4 August – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)
11 August – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)
18 August – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)
25 August – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
1 September – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
8 September – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker)
15 September – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)
22 September – Timebox (Melody Maker)
29 September – The Drifters (Melody Maker)
6 October – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)
12 October – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker – this is a Saturday)
20 October – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
27 October – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
3 November – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
10 November – Inez and Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)
17 November – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)
24 November – Ferris Wheel and Nepenthe (Melody Maker)
1 December – Garnet Mimms with Village Green (Melody Maker)
2 December – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)
8 December – Bandwagon (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
10 December – Simon K & The Meantimers and Olaf Grumps Kneed (Melody Maker/South East London Mercury – this was a Tuesday)
15 December – Timebox (Melody Maker)
22 December – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)
28 December – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
1969
Judging by the gigs below, rock bands continued to play on Sundays with occasional gigs on other days of the week.
5 January – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)
12 January – Root and Jenny Jackson (Melody Maker)
19 January – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)
26 January – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)
2 February – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)
South East London Mercury has The Nice not Spooky Tooth

9 February – Happy Magazine (Melody Maker)
16 February – The Fantastics (Fabulous 208)
Melody Maker has Timebox for the 16 February gig as does South East London Mercury
23 February – Freddie King and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)
Martin Coller got in touch and noted that The Nice were billed to play on 23 February according to Martyn Hanson’s book “Hang on To Dream: The Story of The Nice”.
2 March – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)
9 March – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker)
16 March – The Symbols (Melody Maker)
23 March – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)
30 March – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
2 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker – this was a Wednesday)
6 April – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
13 April – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
20 April – Timebox (Melody Maker)
27 April – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)
4 May – The Symbols (Melody Maker)
11 May – Toast (Melody Maker)
18 May – Howlin’ Wolf (Melody Maker)
25 May – The Riot Squad (Melody Maker)
1 June – No listing in Melody Maker
8 June – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)
15 June – John Lee Hooker with The John Dummer Blues Band (Melody Maker)
22 June – Consortium (Melody Maker)
29 June – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
6 July – Timebox (Melody Maker)
13 July – The Platters (Melody Maker)
20 July – The Joyce Bond Show (Melody Maker)
27 July – The Symbols (Melody Maker)
3 August – The Brian Auger Trinity (Time Out)
10 August – Trapeze (Melody Maker)
17 August – The Globe Show (Melody Maker)
24 August – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)
31 August – Timebox (Melody Maker)
7 September – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)
14 September – The Cliff Bennett Show (Melody Maker)
21 September – Linda Lewis and Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
28 September – The Dave Amboy Big Band (Melody Maker)
5 October – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)
12 October – Zoot Money (Melody Maker)
19 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
25 October – The Brian Auger Trinity (Melody Maker)
2 November – Marv Johnson (Melody Maker)
9 November – Timebox (Melody Maker)
16 November – Freddie King (Melody Maker)
23 November – No entry in Melody Maker
30 November – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)
7 December – The Dave Amboy Band (aka The Amboy Dukes) (Melody Maker and Keith Guster’s diary)
According to Keith Guster, this was the reformed version featuring Keith Guster and Tago Byers from The Fleur De Lys and former Hamilton Movement keyboard player Mick Fletcher.
14 December – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
16 December – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)
21 December – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)
28 December – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)
1970
8 February – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)
27 September – Black Widow and Amazing Grace (Poster from Roy Saxby)

4 October – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)
11 October – Caravan (Poster from Roy Saxby)
18 October – Chicken Shack (Poster from Roy Saxby)
25 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Poster from Roy Saxby)
1 November – Blodwyn Pig (Poster from Roy Saxby)

6 December – The Faces featuring Rod Stewart with Daniels Band (Poster from Roy Saxby)
13 December – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)
20 December – Toe Fat with Albuquerque-Riccoti (Poster from Roy Saxby)
24 December – The Greatest Show on Earth with Tony Simon’s Progressive Show (Poster from Roy Saxby)
27 December – Argent (Poster from Roy Saxby)
31 December – Patto (Poster from Roy Saxby)
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