The Wranglers were a Southeast London band formed around 1963. Judging by early photos they were a four-piece outfit before joining forces with singer Kenny Bernard, who was from Trinidad, in 1965.
Prior to the link up, The Wranglers had released a lone single for Parlophone in 1964. After they became Kenny Bernard & The Wranglers, the group cut two singles for Parlophone before drummer Glenn Martin from Wembley joined them.
An article in the South East London Mercury newspaper, dated 13 August 1965 (see above), lists the line up as:
Kenny Bernard – vocals John Taft – lead guitar Trevor West – rhythm guitar Colin McKie – bass Ian Saunders – saxophone Alan Reeves – organ Glenn Martin – drums
Reeves had previously been a member of another local band, The Showtimers.
This line up cut the group’s third single with Bernard, “The Tracker” c/w “You Gotta Give” on Pye, released in August. The A-side was a cover of The Sir Douglas Quintet’s “She’s About a Mover”.
This line up became the house band at the Ad-Lib Club and live recordings by the band have been released by Acid Jazz Records.
Around September Glenn Martin left to work with singer Ayshea Brough and then a few months later landed a job with Hedgehoppers Anonymous.
Judging by a later article in the South East London Mercury, Martin’s replacement was drummer John Aldrich, who together with guitarist Trevor Brown (possibly the same person as Trevor West above) joined Alan Reeves’s former band The Showtimers in early 1966.
Bernard later went solo.
If anyone can add or correct any information above, please leave a comment.
The Witch Doctor in Catford was a notable rock venue in southeast London and was located above the Savoy Rooms. It opened in October 1965 and mainly hosted bands on Saturday nights (the other nights of the week are noted).
I’ve started a list of artists that were advertised to play at the venue. I would welcome any additions and any memories from anyone that attended the club. All of the entries are from the South East London Mercury unless otherwise noted.
Savoy Rooms’ gigs from March 1964. Photo: South East London Mercury
The gigs listed below from early August to mid-October were held at the Savoy Rooms before the Witch Doctor opened at the end of October 1965:
7 August 1965 – Johnny Cannon & The Shades with The Lonely Ones
14 August 1965 – The Gobbledegooks with Dave & The Strollers
21 August 1965 – The Trendsetters Ltd with Wainwright’s Gentlemen
28 August 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich with The Equals
4 September 1965 – The Bo Street Runners
11 September 1965 – The Bretheren
18 September 1965 – Bubbles & Company
25 September 1965 – The Mark Four
2 October 1965 – The Crowd with The Epics
9 October 1965 – Just Four Men
16 October 1965 – The Symbols
23 October 1965 – missing entry
The following gigs were held at the Witch Doctor, above the Savoy Rooms:
31 October 1965 – The Mighty Avengers
6 November 1965 – The Herd
13 November 1965 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
14 November 1965 – The Lonely Ones (says every Sunday night)
20 November 1965 – The Fenmen
21 November 1965 – The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)
27 November 1965 – The Objects
28 November 1965 – Alan Haren with Tony Crombie and The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)
4 December 1965 – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men
5 December 1965 – The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)
11 December 1965 – The Herd
12 December 1965 – The Washington DCs (Sunday night)
19 December 1965 – The Washington DCs (Sunday night)
24 December 1965 – The Lonely Ones, Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men and The Confederates (Friday night)
31 December 1965 – The Majority, The Beat Syndicate and The High Jackers (Friday night)
8 January 1966 – The Mark Four
15 January 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
22 January 1966 – The Carnaby
29 January 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
5 February 1966 – The Washington DCs
12 February 1966 – The Mark Four (advert says Mark VI’s)
19 February 1966 – The Loose Ends
26 February 1966 – Peter B’s Looners
In March gigs were advertised for Friday. Not sure if that means gigs also happened on Saturdays and they are missing
4 March 1966 – Big beat group (Friday night)
11 March 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Friday night)
18 March 1966 – The Carnaby (Friday night)
25 March 1966 – The Mark Four (Friday night)
1 April 1966 – The Loose Ends and The Lonely Ones (Friday night)
8 April 1966 – missing entry (if band due to play on Friday night)
9 April 1966 – missing entry (if band due to play on Saturday night)
10 April 1966 – The Loose Ends and The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)
15 April 1966 – The Majority (Friday night)
16 April 1966 – missing entry (if band due to play Saturday night)
23 April 1966 – The Washington DCs
28 April 1966 – The Who (Thursday night)
30 April 1966 – The Mark Four
7 May 1966 – Johnny B Great & The Quotations
14 May 1966 – The Loose Ends
21 May 1966 – The Plus Four
28 May 1966 – The Fenmen
4 June 1966 – The Gaylords
11 June 1966 – Washington DCs
18 June 1966 – The Majority
25 June 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
2 July 1966 – The Riot Squad
7 July 1966 – Guy Darrell (Thursday night)
9 July 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
16 July 1966 – missing entry
23 July 1966 – missing entry
30 July 1966 – missing entry
6 August 1966 – Tony Knight’s Chessmen (Sunday night) (Fabulous 208)
13 August 1966 – missing entry
20 August 1966 – Dave Anthony’s Moods
27 August 1966 – The Herd
3 September 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
10 September 1966 – missing entry
17 September 1966 – The Loose Ends
24 September 1966 – The Gaylords (changed name to Marmalade soon after)
1 October 1966 – The Herd
7 October 1966 – The Tea-Set (Friday night)
8 October 1966 – David Bowie
12 October 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Wednesday night)
14 October 1966 – Kenny Everett (Friday night)
15 October 1966 – The Creation
22 October 1966 – The Quiet Five
28 October 1966 – Episode Six (Radio London night) (Brian Long’s research)
29 October 1966 – The Gaylords (aka Marmalade)
4 November 1966 – Pop group (Friday night)
5 November 1966 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations
9 November 1966 – The Clockwork Oranges (Wednesday night)
10 November 1966 – Steve Darbyshire & The Yum Yum Band (Thursday night)
11 November 1966 – Episode Six (Radio London night) (Brian Long’s research)
12 November 1966 – The Epics
19 November 1966 – The Fleur De Lyes with The Clockwork Oranges (Keith Guster’s diary)
23 November 1966 – The Clockwork Oranges (Wednesday night)
26 November 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
Clive Chase who played bass with Bobby King & The Sabres says that his group played on 26 November 1966 with Marmalade (see comments section below where he also lists Bobby King & The Sabres’ gigs at the Savoy Rooms for the years 1963-1965).
30 November 1966 – The Clockwork Oranges (Wednesday night)
2 December 1966 – Radio London night
3 December 1966 – The Gaylords (aka Marmalade)
10 December 1966 – missing entry
16 December 1966 – Radio London night
17 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary –see comments section below)
23 December 1966 – Radio London night
24 December 1966 – The Mark Barry Groove and The Clockwork Oranges
30 December 1966 – Radio London night
31 December 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
The following are all Saturdays, unless otherwise noted. Most of the gigs had support but I did not list who they were.
7 January 1967 – missing entry
14 January 1967 – missing entry
21 January 1967 – The Lonely Ones
28 January 1967 – missing entry
4 February 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers
11 February 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers, The Coloured Raisins and The Heads
18 February 1967 – Guy Darrell and The Gnomes of Zurich
25 February 1967 – Dianne Ferris (aka Ferraz) and Nicky Scott & The New Images
4 March 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex with supporting band
11 March 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex
18 March 1967 – missing entry
25 March 1967 – missing entry
31 March 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Friday night)
1 April 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers
7 April 1967 – The Washington DCs with supporting band (Friday night)
8 April 1967 – The Herd and Bobby King & The Sabres
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, confirms this gig from his diary – see comments section below.
14 April 1967 – The Symbols and The New Breed (Friday night)
15 April 1967 – The Lonely Ones with supporting band
21 April 1967 – The Creation with supporting band (Friday night)
22 April 1967 – The Flies with supporting band
28 April 1967 – (Simon K &) The Meantimers and The Groove (Friday night)
29 April 1967 – The Smoke with supporting band
5 May 1967 – The Coloured Raisins with King Ossie with supporting band (Friday night)
6 May 1967 – Episode Six with supporting band
12 May 1967 – The Next Issue and The Original Dyaks (Friday night)
13 May 1967 – The Fleur De Lyes with supporting band (Keith Guster’s diary)
19 May 1967 – The Human Instinct and The Jet Set (Friday night)
20 May 1967 – King Ossie and The Coloured Raisins with supporting band
26 May 1967 – John Watson & The Web and The Decision (recently The Showtimers but changed name) (Friday night)
27 May 1967 – The Fancy Bred
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 27 May – see comments section below.
2 June 1967 – The Attack with supporting band (Friday night)
3 June 1967 – Just Too Much (ex-members of Davey Sands & The Essex) with supporting band
9 June 1967 – The Knack (Friday night)
10 June 1967 – The H T
16 June 1967 – The Decision (formerly The Showtimers) and The Candy Choir (Friday night)
17 June 1967 – The Original Dyaks with supporting band
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 17 June – see comments section below.
23 June 1967 – The Fireballs and Jon (Friday night)
24 June 1967 – (Simon K &) The Meantimers with supporting band
30 June 1967 – The Power and The Original Dyaks (Friday night)
1 July 1967 – Episode Six with supporting band
7 July 1967 – The Skatellites and The Guns of Navarone (Friday night)
8 July 1967 – Washington DCs with supporting band
14 July 1967 – Coloured Raisins and King Ossie (Friday night)
15 July 1967 – The Creation and The Poor Boys
21 July 1967 – The Original Dyaks (Friday night)
22 July 1967 – Tony Jackson & The Garden (the ex-Searcher?)
28 July 1967 – The Stax (formerly The Heads) and Ruby James (Friday night)
29 July 1967 – The Robb Storme Group and The Amboy Dukes
4 August 1967 – The Iveys (Friday night)
5 August 1967 – Heinz & The Wild Boys
11 August 1967 – Washington DCs with supporting band (Friday night)
12 August 1967 – Episode Six with supporting band
18 August 1967 – The Original Dyaks with supporting band (Friday night)
19 August 1967 – The Marmalade with supporting band
25 August 1967 – (Simon K &) The Meantimers (Friday night)
26 August 1967 – Skip Bisserty (Skip Bifferty?)
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 26 August – see comments section below.
1 September 1967 – The Ebony Keys with supporting band (Friday night)
2 September 1967 – The Amboy Dukes with supporting band
8 September 1967 – The Fingers and Bobby King & The Sabres (Friday night)
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 8 September – see comments section below.
9 September 1967 – Robb Storme Group and The Fireballs
15 September 1967 – The Original Dyaks (Friday night)
16 September 1967 – The Skatallites
22 September 1967 – The Riot Squad and The New Breed (Friday night)
23 September 1967 – The Coloured Raisins
29 September 1967 – Robb Storme Group and Outrage (Friday night)
30 September 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers and The Soul Kings
6 October 1967 – The Love Affair with supporting band(Friday night)
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 6 October – see comments section below.
7 October 1967 – The Original Dyaks with supporting band
13 October 1967 – missing entry
14 October 1967 – missing entry
20 October 1967 – The Amboy Dukes with supporting band (Friday night)
21 October 1967 – Junior Smith
27 October 1967 – missing entry
28 October 1967 – Episode Six with Bobby King & The Sabres
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 28 October – see comments section below.
4 November 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
11 November 1967 – The Gaff and The All Coloured Soul Sensation
18 November 1967 – The Love Affair
25 November 1967 – The Skatallites
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 25 November – see comments section below.
2 December 1967 – Marmalade
9 December 1967 – missing entry
16 December 1967 – missing entry
23 December 1967 – missing entry
30 December 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)
I am missing most of 1968’s entries so would welcome any additions/corrections
17 February 1968 – Marmalade
24 February 1968 – The Amboy Dukes
1 March 1968 – Coloured Raisins
2 March 1968 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)
16 March 1968 – The Gass
20 April 1968 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)
1 June 1968 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)
29 June 1968 – Sweet Rain
Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 29 June – see comments section below. It is the debut gig for the band’s new drummer Geoff Britton who will later go on to join Wings.
6 July 1968 – The Coloured Raisins
17 August 1968 – Funky Fever
14 September 1968 – The Amboy Dukes (Savoy, Catford)
9 November 1968 – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s diary)
7 December 1968 – The Amboy Dukes (Savoy, Catford)
1969
11 January 1969 – The Dream Police (Savoy, Catford) Melody Maker entry says this was formerly the Witch Doctor
Photo: Melody Maker
25 January 1969 – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and Justin Tyme
1 February 1969 – Amboy Dukes
8 February 1969 – The Skatelites
15 February 1969 – The Coloured Raisins and The Electric Sun
22 February 1969 – Justin Tyme
1 March 1969 – US Flattop with The Cat Road Show (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
8 March 1969 – The Skatelites
22 March 1969 – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
4 April 1969 – Bandwagon
Photo: Melody Maker
5 April 1969 –Billie Davis (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)
12 April 1969 – The Carnival
19 April 1969 – The Globe Show
26 April 1969 – Simon K & The Meantimers and Lee Hawkins (Savoy, Catford)
Photo: Melody Maker
3 May 1969 – Johnny James & The Swamp and Archimede’s Principle (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)
10 May 1969 – The Greatest Show on Earth
17 May 1969 – The Pyramids and The Soft Sensation
31 May 1969 – Prince Buster
7 June 1969 – The Globe Show
14 June 1969 – The Cats
28 June 1969 – Purple Globe and The Skatelites
Photo: Melody Maker
2 August 1969 – The Pyramids (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)
9 August 1969 – Simon K & The Meantimers (Savoy, Catford)
23 August 1969 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)
30 August 1969 – Purple Globe
6 September 1969 – Dave Amboy Big Band (Amboy Dukes) (Savoy, Catford)
13 September 1969 – The Amboy Dukes (Savoy, Catford)
20 September 1969 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)
4 October 1969 – Simon K & The Meantimers (Savoy, Catford)
Carl Douglas & the Big Stampede, late 1966/early 1967. Left to right: Dave Brooks, Mike Manners, Carl Douglas, Verdi Stewart, Del Coverley (front), Del Grace and Tony CharmanCarl Douglas & the Big Stampede at the Candlelight in Scarborough on 27 January 1967, at the Flamingo on 28 January 1967, and at the Klue J. Klub, 12 March 1967.
After working with The Charmers and The Carl Douglas Set from 1965-1966, Jamaican singer Carl Douglas and long-standing member, Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) (now on bass) started to put together a new outfit (soon to become The Big Stampede), retaining guitarist Del Grace from The Carl Douglas Set, and bringing in sax player Dave Brooks, who may have joined just before Danny McCulloch departed to become a member of Eric Burdon’s New Animals in late September.
Around the same time, Del Grace’s former band mate from the original Big Wheel, Mike Manners joined on keyboards.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #1:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – bass
Mike Manners – keyboards
Dave Brooks – sax
Ray Beresford – drums (replaced very briefly by Nick Baxter)
Notable gigs:
24 September 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London
26 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Searches (billed as Carl Dallas & The Big Stampede)
13 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Excels
16 October 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London with Ike & Tina Turner show
22 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bell & The Trend and Ray King Soul Pact
28 October 1966 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as Carl Douglas Set) Most likely Nick Baxter on drums
In late October, Ray Beresford departed and former Charmers’ drummer (and the group’s road manager) Nick Baxter filled in until a permanent replacement was found.
Within a week, Del Coverley had arrived from Switzerland where he’d been playing with the latest incarnation of Big Wheel. Trumpet player Verdi Stewart completed The Big Stampede.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #2:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – bass
Mike Manners – organ
Dave Brooks – sax
Verdi Stewart – trumpet
Del Coverley – drums
Notable gigs:
7 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Dave Anthony’s Moods
11 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London
13 November 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with Paul Butterfield Blues Band
18 November 1966 – Cromwellian, Kensington, west London
19 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
21 November 1966-4 December – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Jimi Hendrix jammed one night)
6 December 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
7 December 1966 – Cromwellian, Kensington, west London
8 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton
9 December 1966 – Gravesend Grammar School, Gravesend, Kent
10 December 1966 – Prince of Wales Youth Club, Canterbury, Kent (early pm)
10 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (late pm) with The Blueshealers
14 December 1966 – Cromwellian, Kensington, west London
17 December 1966 – Riley Club, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
20 December 1966 – Birdcage Club, Hull, Humberside
Photo: Tony Charman
23 December 1966 – Beaconsfield Youth Club, Beaconsfield, Hertfordshire
24 December 1966 – Cromwellian, Kensington, west London
25 December 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (afternoon and evening gigs)
26 December 1966 – Brentbridge Hotel, Golders Green, north London
30 December 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London
31 December 1966 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
1 January 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
4 January 1967 – Falcon Hotel, Rochester Way, Eltham, Kent
6 January 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London
6 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
7 January 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop Stortford, Herts (cancelled)
8 January 1967 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
9-10 January 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
12 January 1967 – Club A-Go-Go, Newcastle on Tyne
13 January 1967 – Dancing Slipper Club, West Bridgford, Nottingham
15 January 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with The Soul Sisters
18 January 1967 – Adam & Eve Club, Southampton, Hampshire
Photo: Ken Baxter
19 January 1967 – Left for Belgium for four days and played at New Inn Club, Liege from 20-22 January
27 January 1967 – Candlelight, Scarborough
28 January 1967 – Students’ Union, Southampton University
29 January 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
29 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Radio Caroline Show with D J Johnny Walker)
31 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Survivors
3 February 1967 – Mr McCoy’s, Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire
4 February 1967 – Left for Scotland for four days (including Maryland Club, Glasgow)
11 February 1967 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, east London
11 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Maxine Brown and The Q Set
12 February 1967 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham
15 February 1967 – Adam & Eve Club, Southampton, Hampshire
17 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London
17 February 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London
18 February 1967 – Disc O Blue, Ryde, Isle of Wight
20 February 1967 – Cromwellian, Kensington, west London
24 February 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Nu-2-U
25 February 1967 – Students’ Union, Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
2 March 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
3 March 1967 – Assembly Room, York
4 March 1967 – Students’ Union, Newcastle University, Newcastle on Tyne
5 March 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington North Yorkshire
6-7 March 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
10 March 1967 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London
11 March 1967 – Nottingham College of Education, Nottingham
12 March 1967 – Klue J Klub, Chelmsford, Essex
14 March 1967 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London
18 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
18 March 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, with Lloyd Alexander Blues Band and Dynamic Ebonies
18 March 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London
19 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
20 March 1967 – Al Capone Club, Salisbury, Wiltshire
26 March 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
1 April 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Artwoods
7 April 1967 – Dancing Slipper Club, West Bridgford, Nottingham
8 April 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Close Harmony Sounds
9 April 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
10 April 1967 – Baldock YC, Hertfordshire
David Brooks leaves and briefly works with Felder’s Orioles among other things before re-joining in December 1967. Mel Wayne comes in from Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #3:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – bass
Mike Manners – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Verdi Stewart – trumpet
Del Coverley – drums
Notable gigs:
13 April 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
14 April 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London
15 April 1967 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, east London
17-18 April 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
19 April 1967 – Cavendish Rooms, Willesden, northwest London
22-23 April 1967 – Maryland Club, Glasgow, Scotland
28 April 1967 – Clouds, Derby
30 April 1967 – Ram Jam Club, Brixton, south London (possibly did not happen)
1 May – 2 June 1967 – Voom Voom Club, St Tropez, France, Valbonne Club, Valbonne, France, Whisky A Go Go, Nice, France and American school, Lugano, Switzerland
7 June 1967 – Adam & Eve Club, Southampton, Hampshire,
9 June 1967 – Clouds Club, Derby, Derbyshire
10 June 1967 – University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire
11-12 June 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
17 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Soul Meeting Band
18 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
21-22 June 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
23 June 1967 – Ealing Technical College, Ealing, west London (early)
23 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with Julian Covey & The Machine (late)
24 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London(early)
24 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Downliners Sect and Ebonys (late)
25 June 1967 – Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
30 June 1967 – El Grotto Club, Ilford, Essex
1 July 1967 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex
5-6 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
7 July 1967 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London (early)
7 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (late)
Mike Manners leaves at this point and records with Australian singer Johnny Young. Several keyboard players are used, including Verdi Stewart’s friend Ian Green.
8 July 1967 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Ocean Room, Bournemouth, Dorset
9 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
11 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
12 July 1967 – Norwich University, The Flixton Room, Norwich, Norfolk
13 July 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
14 July 1967 – St Birinus School, Didcote, Berkshire with The Soul Survivors and The Ford Foundation (Ian Green on organ) (early)
14 July 1967 – Rasputin, New Bond Street, central London with The Ford Foundation and The Survivors (late)
15 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable with The All Night Workers (billed as Carl Douglas Set) (Ian Green on organ)
15 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Ian Green on organ)
15 July 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
17-18 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
20 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
21 July 1967 – Gillingham Technical College, Gillingham, Kent
23-24 July 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
28 July 1967 – Palisades Club, Chatham, Kent
29 July 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
Del Coverley leaves at this point and works with a group called Kindness with Andy Clark from Big Wheel and two former members of The Fenmen – Alan Judge and Eric Wilmer.
Carl Douglas and Tony Charman bring in a red haired drummer for a return trip to France (Colin Davy from Georgie Fame’s band) plus veteran keyboard player Iain Hines, who has previously worked with The Jets at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #4:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar
Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – bass
Iain Hines – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Verdi Stewart – trumpet
Colin Davy – drums
Notable gigs:
August 1967 – Voom Voom Club, St Tropez – Valbonne Club, Valbonne, Whisky A Go Go, Nice
Verdi Stewart returns to France and then moves into session work. Hines forms his own band Icarus while Davy joins Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound. Del Grace also leaves at this point to work as a solo artist and with his band, The Rifle.
Carl Douglas and Tony Charman rebuild The Big Stampede, bringing in former Ivan’s Meads organ player Rod Mayall and drummer Dave Richards.
Photo: Torquay Times, 25 August 1967
Guitarist Martin Pugh comes in from The Package Deal. He narrowly misses out on the recent French tour.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #5:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Charman (Tony Webb) – bass
Rod Mayall – organ, vocals
Mel Wayne – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
3 September 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (before Rod Mayall joined)
20 September 1967 – Big Beat Cruise, Solent, South Parade Pier, Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head with The Wrong Direction (Rod Mayall’s debut)
22 September 1967 – Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire
23 September 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
25 September 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
29 September 1967 – Apex Club, Brookfield Hall, South Ashford, Kent with The Couriers (Kentish Express)
30 September 1967 – Nicholas Youth Centre, Basildon, Essex
6 October 1967 – Beaconsfield Youth Centre, Beaconsfield, Hertfordshire (early)
6 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (late)
7 October 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
13 October 1967 – Co-op Hall, Ilkeston, Derby, Derbyshire
14 October 1967 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey
17 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
21 October 1967 – G-Ranch Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent
21-22 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
24 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
25-26 October 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London
27 October 1967 – Big C Club, Farnborough, Hampshire
28 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
29 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent
30 October 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
3 November 1967 – East Berks Tech College, Windsor, Berkshire
4 November 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire
7 November 1967 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London
9 November 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
10 November 1967 – G-Ranch Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent (early)
10 November 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (late)
11 November 1967 – Shoreditch College, Egham, Surrey
16 November 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
17 November 1967 – Gillingham Technical College, Gillingham, Kent
18 November 1967 – RAF Wittering, Stamford, Lincolnshire
19 November 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
24 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester
25 November 1967 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
26 November 1967 – Star Hotel, Maldon, Essex
27 November 1967 – Queen Mary’s Ballroom, Dudley Zoo, Dudley, West Midlands
30 November 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
2 December 1967 – Lord John, Hounslow, west London (early)
2 December 1967 – New All-Star Club, Liverpool Street, east London (billed as Carl Douglas)
8 December 1967 – Bag O’ Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London
9 December 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers and Ferris
14 December 1967 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as New Stampede)
15 December 1967 – Shakespere Hotel, Woolwich, Kent
16 December 1967 – Bee Gee Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Long-standing member Tony Charman can’t go to France and leaves for a few months. Mel Wayne departs soon after and later plays with Calum Bryce.
Former Rupert’s People bass player Tony Dangerfield comes in to replace Tony Charman. Former member Dave Brooks re-joins the band in Biarritz.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #6:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Dangerfield – bass
Rod Mayall – organ, vocals
David Brooks – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
20 December 1967-3 January 1968 – (possibly La Canasta), Biarritz, then club in Perpignan, France
13 January 1968 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey
22 January 1968 – St Matthew’s Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
25 January 1968 – Bird Cage, Harlow, Essex
Photo: Stratford upon Avon Herald
23 February 1968 – Drill Hall, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire
24 February 1968 – St Joseph’s Disco, Swindon, Wiltshire (advert says they are back from a European tour)
2 March 1968 – University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Photo: Derby Evening Telegraph
17 March 1968 – Clouds Club, Derby, Derbyshire
22 March 1968 – Margaret McMillan College, Bradford, West Yorkshire
23 March 1968 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, east London
24 March 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
28 March 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
30 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire
6 April 1968 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
6 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London
Tony Dangerfield departs when Tony Charman returns shortly before a trip to Spain.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #7:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – bass
Rod Mayall – organ, vocals
David Brooks – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
19 April 1968 – Wimpson Youth Club, Southampton, Hampshire
20 April 1968 – White Tiles, Reuben George Hall, Swindon, Wiltshire
27 April 1968 – Stax Club, Circenster, Gloucestershire
Carl Douglas & the Big Stampede, Titan Club Rome, June 1968
7-22 June 1968 – Titan Club, Rome, Italy
Rod Mayall departs and returns to Madrid to join Los Buenos.
Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede #8:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals
Martin Pugh – lead guitar, vocals
Tony Charman (Tony Webb) – bass
David Brooks – sax
Dave Richards – drums
Notable gigs:
27 June 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
4-14 July 1968 – ‘Boat Lydia’, Bacares, near Perpignan, France
1 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
2 August 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey
16 August 1968 – Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh, Suffolk with The Motion Picture (Ipswich Evening Star)
7 September 1968 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Mojos and The Fascination
Tony Charman leaves at this point as he got married on 14 September. In 1969, he forms another south London band. Douglas keeps the band going a bit longer but it’s not clear who is part of this outfit. Martin Pugh joins Steamhammer and Dave Brooks moves into session work.
15 September 1968 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
29 September 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with The Sweet Shop
30 September 1968 – Stax Club, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
5 October 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Fringe Benefit
6 October 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
Douglas moves to Spain and records with The Explosion before finding fame and fortune with ‘Kung Fu Fighting’.
This gig is from 14 December 1968 and suggests there may have been a final version
Thanks to the band’s manager Ken Baxter for sharing his contracts and to bass player Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) for providing concert posters. Dates were also sourced from Melody Maker.
Still an obscure band, the Shooting Stars had two very good 45s in 1967 and 1968 then disappeared. Their location is sometimes given as Winchester, Indiana, a small town north of I-70, about halfway between Indianapolis and Dayton, Ohio.
Their first single is the very catchy “I Love Her Anyway”, written by Robbins and published by Bo-Ann Publishing, BMI. The flip is a blues workout, “After 3 A.M.”, credited to Huff, Perry and Sipe, those names likely members of the band. Teen Beat Mayhem dates the 45 to 1967.
It was released by Randolph Records of Winchester, which may be the reason the band is usually cited as from that town. Randolph had at least a couple other releases, notably “Cherrie – 42553” / “Come Back Baby” by the Ferris Wheel (formerly the Ecstatics) of Union City, Indiana. Members of the Ferris wheel included Danny Percolosi, Tim Skiver, Dick Gaddis, Roger Graham, Bob Lykins, and Nick McNutt. Producer on that 45 was Ed Roehling, Captain Bob Jinkins was engineer, and Jim Dempsey did A&R.
The Shooting Stars 45 on Randolph lacks all these credits, but like the Ferris Wheel, the labels read “Distributed by Sims Recordings.” Randolph also released a country gospel single by Harold Hawley.
I’m not sure I’ve heard the Shooting Stars’ second release, “I Watch the Clock”, an original by the group published by Club Miami, BMI. The flip is a version of Ritchie Valens’ “Donna”.
Airtown Custom Records started in Dayton, Ohio, but had moved to Richmond, Indiana by the time of the Shooting Stars 45. According to Buckeye Beat, here were about a dozen other releases on the label. The Shooting Stars may date to about 1968.
When I bought this copy of Kenneth Rexroth’s Fantasy LP “Jazz & Poetry at the Black Hawk”, I found inside the cover hand-written notes for the session for two of the poems recorded: “Nicholas Dog of Experience” and Rexroth’s translation of Francis Carco’s “The Shadow”.
Different handwriting lists the musicians on the session. Hank Uribe’s daughter tells me this is her father’s handwriting, but the rest of the notes belong to someone else. Musicians were: John Mosher, bass; Clair Willey, piano; Dickie Mills, trumpet; Brew Moore on tenor sax; and Hank Uribe on drums.
Even though Fantasy had an entire back cover to fill with notes, they didn’t bother to list the musicians, so I haven’t seen this information published anywhere else.
Kenneth Rexroth wrote an essay called “Jazz Poetry” for The Nation magazine in 1958 discussing how he was working with a quintet that included three musicians who would appear on the Black Hawk album: Brew Moore, Dickie Mills and Clair Willey; plus Frank Esposito on trombone, Ron Crotty on bass and Gus Gustafson on drums.
I’m also including a scan of a legal release to allow photos to be taken in the Black Hawk club in San Francisco. All this may be minor history, but I know someone else besides me will be interested in it.
The collaboration of beat poets with jazz musicians is a strange and funny genre, and Rexroth’s delivery is one of the oddest:
Rexroth passed away in 1982; Hank Uribe in February 2011. Brew Moore was probably the most famous musician on this session, which would have taken place just before he dropped out of the jazz scene until relocating to Europe. Fantasy released an LP under his leadership in 1956, featuring a band that included Dickie Mills. Moore died in 1973.
Francis Carco – The Shadow, translated by Kenneth Rexroth Francis Carco – The Shadow page 3, Kenneth Rexroth at the Black Hawk, with handwritten notes by Hank Uribe Kenneth Rexroth – Nicholas Dog of Experience, with notes by Hank Uribe Kenneth Rexroth at the Black Hawk, notes by Hank Uribe. June 1960. This page lists John Mosher, bass; Clair Willey, piano; Dickie Mills, trumpet; Brew Moore on tenor sax; and Hank Uribe on drums. Fantasy Records Photo Release for the Blackhawk
Update 2022: Hank Uribe’s daughter Ann wrote to me with the information that her father “was Johnny Mathis’s first drummer in high school. He played with Vince Guraldi, Smith Dobson, Dave Lario, Bud Dimmock, Red Norvo, and so many others.” She sent in the photo seen below.
Ellis Theater, San Francisco, September 20, 1951. From left, top: Johnny Mathis, unidentified, Merl Saunders, Hank Uribe (drums), Lionel Hampton, Roy Harris (vibes), Frank Roberts (bass), Bill Hawkens (alto), unidentified. Bottom row from left: unidentified alto, Roland Mitchell (tenor), unidentified, Mel McPherson (tenor), Frank Wood (tenor)
In the first week of February 1968, Jimmy Cliff split with The Shakedown Sound and teamed up with Manchester group, Wynder K Frog.
I think the line up below is correct but I would be interested to hear from anyone that can provide more information. I think the group split with Cliff in late 1968/early 1969.
Jimmy Cliff – lead vocals Wynder K Frog (aka Mick Weaver) – keyboards, vocals Neil Hubbard – guitar Alan Spenner – bass Bruce Rowland – drums
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
8 February 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
10 February 1968 – Stockwell College, Bromley, southeast London with The Decision
18 February 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands
20 February 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (originally billed The Shakedown Sounds as backing group earlier in the month but changed nearer the time to Wynder K Frog)
25 February 1968 – The Walsgrave, Coventry (billed as Jimmy Cliff Show with Wynder K Frogg)
26 February 1968 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands with The Traction
4 March 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
4 March 1968 – Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Coventry
5 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James Show
7 March 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
Photo: Sheffield Star. Image may be subject to copyright
8 March 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
10 March 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
Photo: Western Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright
18 March 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with Wynder K Frog and Dave Illingworth (Billed as The Jimmy Cliff Show)
26 March 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Billed as Jimmy Cliff Show featuring Wynder K Frog)
30 March 1968 – Burton’s Uxbridge, west London
1 April 1968 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands with The Shakedown Sound and The Probe
6 April 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with The Shakedown Sound, The Uglies and Locomotive
7 April 1968 – Queen’s Beat Club, Birmingham
8 April 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with Magic Roundabout
10 April 1968 – British Legion, Northfield, West Midlands
11 April 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (billed as Jimmy Cliff The Shakedown Sound)
13 April 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with The Idle Race, Calgary Stampede and The Shakedown Sound (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Sound)
14 April 1968 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich with The Shock Treatment and Sugar Machine
14 April 1968 – Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Coventry
21 April 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
22 April 1968 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, Dudley, West Midlands with Jasper Stubbs
23 April 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
26 April 1968 – Mabern Club, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
27 April 1968 – Burton’s Uxbridge, west London
Photo: Western Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright
4 May 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with The Mushroom Crowd (Billed as Jimmy Cliff Show with Wynder K Frog)
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
9 May 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Imagination
12 May 1968 – South Bank, Grimsby (billed as with The Shakedown Sounds)
14 May 1968 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The Shakedown Sounds
15 May 1968 – Summerhill House Hotel, Kingswinford, West Midlands
16 May 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull
Photo: Stratford upon Avon Herald. Image may be subject to copyright
17 May 1968 – Drill Hall, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
Photo: Scarborough Evening News. Image may be subject to copyright
17 May 1968 – Candlelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire They may not have appeared
18 May 1968 – Savoy, Catford, south east London (billed as just Jimmy Cliff)
19 May 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
20 May 1968 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands with The Shakedown Sound and Sound Syndicate (possibly The System instead)
21 May 1968 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands
21 May 1968 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The Shakedown Sound
22 May 1968 – Summerhill House Hotel, Kingswinford, West Midlands
23 May 1968 – James Finegan Hall, Eston, Middlesbrough with The Shakedown Sound, The Steve Brown Soul Sect and The Chelfont Line
Photo: Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright
23 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire with The Shakedown Sound
3 June 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
Photo: Gloucester Citizen. Image may be subject to copyright
5 June 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
6 June 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
7 June 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham
10 June 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
12 June 1968 – Penns Hall, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield
13 June 1968 – Durham College, Durham
14 June 1968 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester
15 June 1968 – Southampton University, Southampton
20 June 1968 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
29 June 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands
2 July 1968 – Droitwich Winter Gardens, Droitwich, Worcestershire
14 July 1968 – Excel Blue Angel, Middlesbrough with The Shakedown Sound
16 July 1968 – Hen and Chickens, Langley, West Midlands
20 July 1968 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands
20 July 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
21 July 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands
22 July 1968 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands with Soul Syndicate
28 July 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
Photo: Scarborough Evening News. Image may be subject to copyright
2 August 1968 – Candlelight, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
3 August 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with The Shakedown Sound
4 August 1968 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry with The Shakedown Sound
8 August 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
10 August 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with The Uglys
12 August 1968 – Queen Mary Ballroom, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands
Photo: Gloucester Citizen. Image may be subject to copyright
16 August 1968 – Blue Pacific, Bristol Hotel, Gloucester
17 August 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
1 September 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation
9 September 1968 – George Hotel, Walsall, West Midlands with Felix Park (billed as Mr Jimmy Cliff and The Shakedown Sound)
13 September 1968 – Victoria Ballroom, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
14 September 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire with The Shakedown Sound
21 September 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
Sources:
Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker plus posters online.
Also the following newspapers: Birmingham Daily Post, Birmingham Evening Mail, Cheddar Valley Gazette, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Crewe Chronicle, Derbyshire Times, Express & Star, Grantham Journal, Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Northwich Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle, Scarborough Evening News, Sheffield Star, Stratford upon Avon Herald, Warrington Guardian, Wells Journal, Gloucester Citizen, Western Gazette
Jimmy Cliff – lead vocals Kevin Gammond – lead guitar, vocals (left in October 1967 to join Band of Joy) Terry (Verden) Allen – organ, vocals John Best – bass Sean Jenkins – drums
26 November 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
3 January 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
7 -8 January 1967 – Omnibus club, Colombes, near Paris, France (see comments section and picture below)
10 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Brothers
14 January 1967 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Jimi Hendrix Experience
19 January 1967 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
20 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Derek Savage Foundation
21 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Iveys and The Twilights
22 January 1967 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London
26 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers
2 February 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
4 February 1967 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, east London
5 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
15 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
18 February 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound
18 February 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Tonics, The Institute and Ray Bones
22 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
24 February 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with 22nd Street People
26 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
3 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
5 March 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
11 March 1967 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, London
12 March 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
15 March 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
17 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham
18 March 1967 – Club a Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Outer Limits
19 March 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
24 March 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Top of The Tree
26 March 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Show)
26 March 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
27 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with C G Morris & The Reaction
27 March 1967 – Kitchners, Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
30 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Drifters, The Senate and Joe E Young & The Toniks
1 April 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester
2 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London
21 April 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with The Original Drifters
22 April 1967 – Southport Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
24 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Jimmy Cliff special guest) with Lloyd Alexander Blues Band and Lee Hawkins Group
25 April 1967 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London
26 April 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Horatio Soul and Square Deals Exposure with Yvonne
28 April 1967 – Refectory, Golders Green, north London
28 April 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Sugar Simone Programme and Moon Alexander Drive (all-nighter)
4-5 May 1967 – Omnibus club, Colombes, near Paris, France (see comments section)
10 May 1967 – Les Oubliettes, Rouen, France (see comments section)
13 May 1967 – Plebeians Jazz Club, Halifax, West Yorkshire
13 May 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
14 May 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Chants and The Forum
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
15 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (billed as Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
16 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
18 May 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Shakedown Sound
19 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
20 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
23 May 1967 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
Photo: Worcester Evening News. Photo may be subject to copyright
24 May 1967 – 1600, Hereford, Herefordshire
25 May 1967 – Kitchners, Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
27 May 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with The Creation
1 June 1967 – Palais des Sports, Paris, France
3 June 1967 – The Nite Owl, Leicester, Leicestershire
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
3 June 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
4 June 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
6 June 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
7 June 1967 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The Stax Movement
8 June 1967 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
9 June 1967 – Drokiweeny, Manchester with John Evans Smash
9 June 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich
10 June 1967 – Digbeth Town Hall, Birmingham
11 June 1967– Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester
17 June 1967 – Shalimar Club, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
19 June 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
24 June 1967 – Plebeians Jazz Club, Halifax, West Yorkshire
26 June 1967 – Wall City Jazz Club, Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Chuckles, The Wall City Jazzmen and The Hands
27 June 1967 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands
Photo copyright: Here Tis Magazine #8. The band at the Voom Voom Club, July 1967
July 1967 – Voom Voom Club, St Tropez, France
3 August 1967 – Kidderminster Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
4 August 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
5 August 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester
6 August 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham
7 August 1967 – Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk
8 August 1967 – Bolero Club, West Bromwich, West Midlands
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
11 August 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands
12 August 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with The Script
13 August 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Candy Choir
15 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent
16 August 1967 – Samantha’s Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
20 August 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with Barmy Barrie
21 August 1967 – Staffordshire Yeoman, Stafford
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
24 August 1967 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
Photo: Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
25 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound
26 August 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
28 August 1967 – Mackadown, Kitts Green, West Midlands with Idle Race
29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Long John Baldry and Wynder K Frog
31 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent
1 September 1967 – Crow’s Nest, Tamworth, Staffordshire
2 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Oldhill, West Midlands
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
2 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands
4 September 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Junction and The Sharons
7 September 1967 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
8 September 1967 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Deacon Yeats Situation and Times Square
8 September 1967 – Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Wellington Kitch Band
9 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands
10 September 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions
13 September 1967 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
16 September 1967 – Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Motown Trinity
18 September 1967 – The Funhouse, Worcester Co-op, Worcester
19 September 1967 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands
24 September 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
25 September 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Dual Purpose and Barmy Barry Show
26 September 1967 – Shenley Green Youth Club, Birmingham
29 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands
30 September 1967 – Tinned Chicken, York,North Yorkshire with The Roll Movement
1 October 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry with The Peasant Sect
3 October 1967 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford, Herefordshire
5 October 1967 – HMS Pembroke, Chatham, Kent
6 October 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
7-8 October 1967 – Tabenacle, Southport, Greater Manchester
11 October 1967 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
12 October 1967 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
13 October 1967 – Shalimar Club, Sparrow Park, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with Raymond with His Steel Band and Mr Johnny Walker with His Wild Bamboo Sound
14 October 1967 – Sheffield University, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Photo: Halifax Evening Courier & Guardian/Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Photo may be subject to copyright
14 October 1967 – Plebeians Jazz Club, Halifax, West Yorkshire
15 October 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London
16 October 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Menders
17 October 1967 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
19 October 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands
Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound #2
Jimmy Cliff – lead vocals Mick Ralphs – lead guitar, vocals Terry (Verden) Allen – organ, vocals John Best – bass Sean Jenkins – drums
29 October 1967 – Glastonbury Town Hall. Glastonbury, Somerset
4 November 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation
4 November 1967 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, east London (billed as Jimmy Cliff)
5 November 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation
7 November 1967 – St Cuthbert’s Society, Durham
10 November 1967 – International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
11 November 1967 – Cambridge Hall, Southport, Lancashire
11 November 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
12 November 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
14 November 1967 – Samantha’s Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
15 November 1967 – Scotch Club, Torquay, Devon (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
23 November 1967 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
Photo: Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Photo may be subject to copyright
25 November 1967 – Golden Disc, Keighley, West Yorkshire
27 November 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Varsity Rag and Barmy Barry (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
28 November 1967 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands
29 November 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Mythology
1 December 1967 – New Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
2 December 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester
4 December 1967 – Wall City Jazz Club, Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Perfumed Garden, 4 Originals and The Wall City Jazzmen
9 December 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with The Funky Bunk Band (Retford Times)
10 December 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry with The Sun Trolley
13 December 1967 – Aston University, Aston, West Midlands
Photo: Yorkshire Evening Post. Photo may be subject to copyright
14 December 1967 – String O’ Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire
16 December 1967 – Birmingham Technical College, Birmingham
17 December 1967 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
18 December 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The ‘N’ Betweens and Transodisque
26 December 1967 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midland with Locomotive
30 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
5 January 1968 – Benn Memorial Hall, Rugby Town Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire with The Mood and Tony ‘Big’ Fry
7 January 1968 – Nottingham Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
Photo: Ipswich Evening Star. Photo may be subject to copyright
8 January 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Club, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk
12 January 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
13 January 1968 – Wolverhampton College of Technology Student Union, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with ‘N’ Betweens (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Explosion)
15 January 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
17 January 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands
19 January 1968 – Public Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (see 45 Worlds)
19 January 1968 – Student’s Union, Nottingham Regional College of Technology, Nottingham with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Litter
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
20 January 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands
21 January 1968 – Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Coventry
26 January 1968 – Bal de l’École Centrale, Paris with Spooky Tooth (see comments section and photo below)
28 January 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich with Jaytree Organisation
28 January 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
1 February 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
Photo: Grantham Journal. Photo may be subject to copyright
4 February 1968 – Cat Balou Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire
4 February 1968 – The Hub, Barnsley, South Yorkshire (this was probably one of the final gigs before Wynder K Frog took over)
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Photo may be subject to copyright
8 February 1968 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands (this is an interesting gig as the Birmingham Evening Mail originally listed The Shakedown Sounds as backing band but nearer the time it changed to Wynder K Frog)
20 February 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (this is an interesting gig as the Express & Star originally listed The Shakedown Sounds as backing band a few weeks earlier but nearer the time it changed to Wynder K Frog)
Sources:
Many of the gigs are from Melody Maker and Fabulous 208 but also from posters advertised online
Newspapers: Birmingham Evening Mail, Cambridgeshire Times, Express & Star, Herald Express, Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Kidderminster Times & Stourport News, Lincolnshire Standard, Manchester Evening News, Northwich Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Somerset County Gazette, Worcester Evening News, Yorkshire Evening Post, Stafford Newsletter, Halifax Evening Courier & Guardian
When Jimmy Cliff split with The New Generation in late July 1966, he was backed by a series of groups between August-December 1966. Both The Soul System (which became The Attack) and Dave Antony’s Moods are often cited as support bands but I have received email confirmation from David O’List (Attack) and Tim Large (Dave Antony’s Moods), which state that neither band worked with Jimmy Cliff.
I would be interested to hear from anyone that can identify the support bands below.
9 August 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho central London (billed as Jimmy Cliff)
14 August 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (billed as Jimmy Cliff Show)
16 August 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as Jimmy Cliff)
23 August 1966 – Whiskey A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (billed as Jimmy Cliff)
2 September 1966 – Kingston Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
3 September 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester
4 September 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London
18 September 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (billed as Jimmy Cliff Show)
20 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (billed as Jimmy Cliff Sound System)
3 December 1966 – The New All Star Club, Liverpool Street, London (might be debut with Shakedown Sound)
Sources:
Most of the gigs above are from Melody Maker and Fabulous 208
The Carl Douglas Set, circa September 1966, from left: Carl Douglas, Del Grace, Danny McCulloch, Ray Beresford and Tony Webb. Photo courtesy of Ken Baxter and Tony Charman.
Jamaican-born singer Carl Douglas is best known for the 1970s international hit “Kung Fu Fighting”. During the 1960s, however, he led a series of south London groups, starting with The Charmers and culminating with The Big Stampede.
Multi-instrumentalist Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) began his career with West Dulwich outfit Sounds Five in 1963. The band changed name to The Charmers when Carl Douglas joined them in mid-1965.
By year’s end, the group’s line up comprised Carl Douglas (lead vocals), Mick Patel (lead guitar), Tony Charman (organ), Lee Hall (bass) and Nick Baxter (drums). This formation cut six tracks with Nick Baxter’s cousin, Ken Baxter, who subsequently became the group’s manager. The tracks have been picked up by UK collectors’ label Acid Jazz for a compilation that will be released in late June.
In early 1966, the band’s personnel changed when Ron Bryer (aka Ron Spence) from The Loose Ends and The Revellos replaced Mick Patel on lead guitar and Ray Beresford succeeded Nick Baxter on drums and cut two more tracks, “You Don’t Know” and “I (Who Have Nothing)”, which will also appear on the Acid Jazz compilation album.
The Carl Douglas Set #1:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals Tony Charman (aka Webb) – organ Ron Bryer (aka Ron Spence) – lead guitar Lee Hall – bass Ray Beresford – drums
Selected gigs:
5 May 1966 – Pontiac, Putney, southwest London
The Carl Douglas Set at the Pontiac Club, Putney, May 1966
13 May 1966 – Goldhawk Social Club, Shepherd’s Bush, west London
22 May 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London (billed as The Charmers)
Photo: Tony Charman
29 May 1966 – Seven Eleven Go Go Club, Kennington, south London
1 June 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London
4 June 1966 – Goldhawk Social Club, Shepherd’s Bush, west London
11 June 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London (billed as Carl Douglas & The Charmers)
12 June 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Creation
19 June 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London
25 June 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The New York Public Library and The End
The Carl Douglas Set #2:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals Del Grace – lead guitar Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – organ Lee Hall – bass Ray Beresford – drums
Around early July, Beresford introduced his neighbour, guitarist Del Grace, who had recently returned from a Swiss tour with his group Big Wheel, after Ron Bryer left. Interestingly, Bryer took Grace’s place in Big Wheel and later moved out to Switzerland where he later worked with Barry Window & The Movements and Brain Ticket.
Selected gigs:
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
15 July 1966 – Oscar’s Grotto Club, Ilford, east London
17 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Knack
4 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Rick ‘N’ Beckers
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
5 August 1966 – Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) Billed as Karl Douglas Set
6 August 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire
Photo: Nottingham Evening Post. Image may be subject to copyright
19 August 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
22-26 August 1966 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Lee Hall left immediately after this)
The Carl Douglas Set #3:
Carl Douglas – lead vocals Del Grace – lead guitar Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) – organ Danny McCulloch – bass, vocals Ray Beresford – drums
In late August, bass player Danny McCulloch, who was soon poached for Eric Burdon’s ‘New’ Animals took over bass duties before Tony Charman moved from organ to bass and Carl Douglas restructured the band once move.
Selected gigs:
1 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Knack
9 September 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
16 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Otis Redding
18 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The News
Thanks to the band’s manager Ken Baxter for sharing his contracts and to bass player Tony Charman (aka Tony Webb) for providing concert posters. Dates were also sourced from music papers and newspapers that include Melody Maker, Aldershot News, South East London Mercury and Nottingham Evening Post.
The Huntsmen – picture sleeve courtesy of Jim Wilson.
The Huntsmen came out of Millikan High School in Long Beach, and were friends with the Emperors and also likely the Royal Knights, as this sleeve scan and the business cards below came from the collection of one of that band’s members.
The Huntsmen had two singles on the Pam label in the early ’60s:
Pam 1001/1002: “Send Me Some Lovin'” / “Wishbone” Pam 1003/1004: “Fever” / “Big Bowl of Soul”
“Wishbone” and “Big Bowl of Soul” are band originals.
The labels list the band members, but I don’t have good scans of the labels – if anyone can provide some please contact me.
Jim Bradshaw – lead guitar and lead vocals Jerry Christensen – drums Mick Lorito – rhythm guitar Bill McKinney Don Rabish (?)
I’m not sure if this is the same Pam label that owned by Jim Aguirre and located at 150 Pamela Blvd in Monrovia, across the city from Long Beach. That Pam had a release from the late ’50s, Bill Garland’s “Lonesome Guitar” / “Guitar Blues” (Pam 45-201).
I’ve heard the A-sides of both singles and they’re excellent as this shows:
Jim Bradshaw had a long career in music after the Huntsmen, including a bi-racial band, the Disciples of Soul, and stints with Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis, Eddie Vinson, Taj Mahal, Etta James, Junior Wells, and Henry Vestine of Canned Heat. James Bradshaw died in Oregon in 2003.
These band cards offer a glimpse of the local scene circa 1964-’65, including the Royal Knights, the Huntsmen, the Emperors and two cards from the Starfires from Downey. Did any of these other bands record?
Los Angeles band cards from circa 1962-1966, including the Vida-Men, the Coachmen, the Continentals, the Del-Links, Mikron Custom Guitar Finishes (Mike Cohn and Ron Eclit), the Starfires, The Royal Knights, the Impressions, the Ascots, the Leisuremen, the Friends (“Dances – Riots – Concerts”), the Shamrocks, and the Versitile Intruders. From the collection of Jim Wilson.
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
