Categories: England, Kingston Upon Thames, London, Surrey

The (Jazz) Cellar Club, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London

February 20, 2014 Nick Warburton 118 Comments

The (Jazz) Cellar in Kingston Upon Thames was an important music venue in southwest London from 1962-1966. Many notable local bands played there in their formative years, most notably The Yardbirds and The Nashville Teens. The Animals also played there regularly in the early months of 1964 after moving down to London from the northeast.

I have started to compile a gig list and would welcome any additions/corrections in the comments section. I would also welcome any memories and photos/flyers/posters.

1962

I have only a few entries for 1962 and would welcome any additions

14 July – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

21 July – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

28 July – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

6 September – Mike Berry & The Outlaws (Surrey Comet)

Ritchie Blackmore didn’t join The Outlaws on lead guitar until mid-October 1962

1 November – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Surrey Comet)

1963

I have only a few entries for 1963 and would welcome any additions

20 February – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

23 February – Dean Lincoln & The Topics (Surrey Comet)

8 March – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

9 March – The Avengers (Surrey Comet)

10 March – Neil Christian (Surrey Comet)

12 March – The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

14 March – The Barron Knights and The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

21 March – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

12 April – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

2 May – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Surrey Comet)

3 May – Neil Landon & The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

25 May – Paul Danton & The Deputies (Surrey Comet)

26 May – The Laurie Jay Combo and Barry St John (Surrey Comet)

28 May – The Topics (Surrey Comet)

30 May – Sounds Incorporated (Surrey Comet)

20 June – The Solitairs (Surrey Comet)

21 June – The Jet Blacks (Surrey Comet)

2 July – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

17 July – The Roosters (with Eric Clapton) (Surrey Comet)

24 July – The Roosters (with Eric Clapton) (Surrey Comet)

Confusingly, there were two local bands called The Roosters. The first, led by Ben Palmer, included Eric Clapton and future Manfred Mann guitarist Tom McGuiness between January-August 1963.

The second (less celebrated one) featured Pete Jeffries (lead guitar), Del Turner (rhythm guitar), Ron Jefferies (bass) and Jim Strachan (drums). The other gigs below are by this version.

8 August – The Hi-Fi and Tony Kaye (Surrey Comet)

10 August – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

13 August – Colin Shane & The Shannons (Surrey Comet)

29 August – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

7 September – Alex & The Blues Strangers (John Warburg research – see comments section below)

8 September – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (John Warburg research – see comments section below)

12 September – The Rolling Stones (Surrey Comet)

12 October – The Stormville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

21 December – Steve Marriott & The Moonlights (Surrey Comet)

28 December – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

1964

I don’t have a complete listing for 1964 so would welcome any additions

5 January – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Surrey Comet)

11 January – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 January – The Shifters (audition) (John Warburg’s research – see comments section below)

28 January – Neil Landon & The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

3 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending – Monday evening – see comments section below)

5 February – The Animals (first regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research – see comments section below)

7 February – The Druids (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

8 February – The Senators (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

9 February – The Fortunes and The Clifton All Stars (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

10 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

11 February – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

12 February – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

14 February – Im & The Uvvers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

16 February – Gene Vincent & The Shouts (Surrey Comet)

17 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

18 February – The Presidents (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

19 February – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

21 February – The Mastersounds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

22 February – The Cracksmen (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

23 February – The Nashville Teens (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

24 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

25 February – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

26 February – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

28 February – The Zephyrs and Robb Storme & The Whispers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

29 February – The Presidents (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

Photo: story on Cellar Club, Clapham Advertiser, 6 March 1964, page 4

1 March – Grant Tracey & The Sunsets (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

2 March – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

3 March – The Stereos (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

4 March – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

6 March – The Moquettes (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

7 March – The Pentagons (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

8 March – The Nashville Teens (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

10 March – The Beat Syndicate (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

11 March – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

13 March – Steve Marriott & The Wandering Ones (Surrey Comet)

The Kingston & Malden Borough News says that Steve Marriott’s backing band are called The Frantics. The Clapham Advertiser also has this listing, but with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions in support.

14 March – The Senators (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

15 March – The Gamblers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

16 March – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

17 March – Ronnie Webb & The Phantoms (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

18 March – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

20 March – Bridgette Bond (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

21 March – The Cracksmen (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

22 March – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

23 March – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

25 March – Unit 5 (Teddington, west London band) (Kingston & Malden Borough News) Kim Chester says The Animals played a regular Wednesday residency

Photo: Norman Sheers. Jerry Lee Lewis, 26 March 1964

26 March – Jerry Lee Lewis (backed by The Nashville Teens) (Norman Sheers’ recollections)

Jerry Leech (see comments section below) confirms that Jerry Lee Lewis played on 26 March

The Kingston & Malden Borough News lists Jerry Lee Lewis for this date with The Nashville Teens and The Original Checkmates

27 March – The Stormsville Shakers with Jerry Lee Lewis (Surrey Comet and website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

28 March – Micky Finn & The Blues Men (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

29 March – The Paramounts (John Warburg’s research – see comments section below)

The Kingston & Malden Borough News lists The Zephyrs for 29 March

30 March – The Yardbirds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

1 April – The Animals and The Originals (Kingston & Malden Borough News/Harrow Weekly Post)

3 April – The Presidents (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

4 April – The Black Jays (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

5 April – The Druids (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

6 April – The Yardbirds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

8 April – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

10 April – The Cardinals (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

11 April – The Bumblies (Kingston & Malden Borough News) Harrow Weekly Post has Val Foster & The Senators

12 April – Jimmy Stevens & The Exciters (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

13 April – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

15 April – The Animals (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

16 April – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four (Record Mirror)

17 April – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

18 April – Kal Foster & The Senators (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

19 April – The Nashville Teens (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

20 April – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)

Record Mirror confirms that The Yardbirds play every Monday

22 April – The Tridents (Surrey Comet and John and Paul Lucas’ diaries)

The Kingston & Malden Borough News lists The Animals for 22 April

27 April – The Yardbirds (Record Mirror)

30 April – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

2 May – The Plebs and The Original Topics (Surrey Comet)

3 May – Micky Finn & The Bluesmen (Surrey Comet)

4 May – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

6 May – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

8 May – Steve Marriott & The Frantic Ones (Surrey Comet)

9 May – Micky Finn with The Black Jays (Surrey Comet)

10 May – Micky Finn & The Bluemen (Surrey Comet)

11 May – The Yardbirds (confirmed by Gus Smith who attended)

13 May – Tony Colton & The Crawdaddies (Surrey Comet)

15 May – The Moquettes (Surrey Comet)

16 May – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

18 May – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

20 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror)

23 May – The Micky Finn (Surrey Comet)

24 May – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

25 May – The Yardbirds and The Grebbels (Surrey Comet)

27 May – The Tridents with The Plebs (Surrey Comet and John and Paul Lucas’ diaries)

29 May – Phil & The Stormsville Shakers (Surrey Comet)

30 May – The Karnells (Surrey Comet)

31 May – The Micky Finn (Surrey Comet)

1 June – The Yarbirds (Surrey Comet)

3 June – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

Record Mirror says that John Lee Hooker played on 3 June supported by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and with The Plebs opening. Surrey Comet confirms

5 June – The Pitmen (Surrey Comet)

6 June – The Road Runners (Surrey Comet)

7 June – The Satins (Record Mirror)

8 June – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)

10 June – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

12 June – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

13 June – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

14 June – Tony Holland & The Packabeats (Surrey Comet)

15 June – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

17 June – Group Four + One (Record Mirror)

19 June – The Henchmen (Record Mirror)

20 June – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

21 June – The Tridents (Record Mirror) replaced by The Vincents (Surrey Comet)

Lindsay Bex, who played drums with the band at the time, notes in his diary the following “Off – A O’Donnel”, which suggests that the gig was cancelled. Surrey Comet confirms as they have The Vincents.

22 June – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)

24 June – The Smokey Beats (Record Mirror)

26 June – The Countdowns (Record Mirror)

Surrey Comet has The Plebs instead of The Countdowns

27 June – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

28 June – The Playboys (Record Mirror)

29 June – The Yardbirds and The Grebbels (Surrey Comet)

1 July – Five’s Company (Surrey Comet)

3 July – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

4 July – Five’s Company (Surrey Comet)

5 July – Cops & Robbers (Surrey Comet)

8 July – Johnny & The Spirits (Surrey Comet)

10 July – The Echoletts (Surrey Comet)

11 July – The Laurie Jay Combo (Surrey Comet)

12 July – The Stereos (Surrey Comet)

13 July – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

17 July – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

18 July – Earl Sheridan & The Houseshakers (Surrey Comet)

19 July – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

20 July – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)

22 July – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

24 July – The Presidents (Record Mirror)

25 July – Mickie Finn & The Blue Men (Record Mirror)

26 July – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

27 July – Group Four + One (Record Mirror)

29 July – The Impacts (Surrey Comet)

31 July – The Original Topics (Surrey Comet)

1 August – The Web (Surrey Comet)

2 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

3 August – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)

5 August – The Animals and The Plebs (club flyer)

7 August – The Plebs and The Denims (club flyer)

Surrey Comet has Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages on 7 August

8 August – Group Four + One (club flyer)

9 August – The Nite Shift (club flyer)

Jeff Beck was the band’s lead guitarist but would join The Tridents in early September.

10 August – The Mike Cotton Sound (club flyer)

12 August – The Nashville Teens and The Beat Syndicate (club flyer/Surrey Comet)

14 August – The Jet Set (Surrey Comet)

15 August – The Playboys (Surrey Comet)

16 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

17 August – The Mojos (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

19 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

21 August – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (Surrey Comet)

22 August – The Bumblies (Surrey Comet)

23 August – The Cheaters (Surrey Comet)

24 August – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

26 August – The Moonrakers (Surrey Comet)

28 August – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

29 August – The Presidents (Surrey Comet)

30 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

31 August – The Mike Cotton Sound (Surrey Comet)

5 September – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

7 September – The Mojos (Surrey Comet)

9 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

11 September – The Druids (Surrey Comet)

12 September – The Bumblies (Surrey Comet)

13 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

14 September – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)

This gig (and the remaining ones below) were performed by the second version of The Roosters and not the one that featured Eric Clapton and Tom McGuiness between January-August 1963 (see entries above from July 1963).

16 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

18 September – Linda Crane & The Cosmic Sounds (Surrey Comet)

19 September – The Profits (Surrey Comet)

20 September – Guest groups (Surrey Comet)

21 September – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)

23 September – Two groups (Record Mirror) Surrey Comet has The Cheaters

25 September – The Cosmic Sounds with Linda Crain (aka Crane) (Record Mirror) Surrey Comet has The Wranglers

26 September – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)

27 September – Two groups (Record Mirror)

28 September – Group Four + One (Record Mirror)

30 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

2 October – The College Boys (Surrey Comet)

3 October – Little Richard & The Objects (Surrey Comet)

4 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

5 October – The Mike Cotton Sound (Surrey Comet)

7 October – Rock ‘n’ Roll competition (Record Mirror/Surrey Comet)

9 October – The Roosters (Record Mirror)

10 October – Im an The Uvvers (Record Mirror)

11 October – The Jaguars (Surrey Comet)

The Orbits, 1964. Photo: Trevor Bennett. Left to right: Todd Tyrell, Ted Cunningham, Brian Edwards and Trevor Bennett.

12 October – The Mojos and The Orbits (Record Mirror)

14 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

16 October – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)

17 October – Earl Sheridan & The Houseshakers (Record Mirror)

18 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

19 October – The Mike Cotton Sound (Record Mirror)

21 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

23 October – Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Surrey Comet)

24 October – The Challengers (Surrey Comet)

25 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)

26 October – Little Eva, The Stereos, The College Boy, The Rockin’ Welsh Boys and Danny Storm & The Strollers (Surrey Comet)

28 October – Unit 5 (Teddington, west London band) (Surrey Comet)

30 October – The Exciting Stereos (Record Mirror)

31 October – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)

1 November – The Group Survival (Record Mirror)

2 November – Themselves (Record Mirror)

4 November – The Roosters and XL5 (Surrey Comet)

7 November – Cosmic Sounds (Surrey Comet)

13 November – The Impacts (Surrey Comet)

16 November – Jimmy Reed, The Plebs and John Lee Groundhogs (Surrey Comet)

18 November – Carl Perkins and The Cosmic Sounds (Surrey Comet)

21 November – Themselves (Surrey Comet and Gus Smith recollections from attending)

24 November – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

27 November – Unit 5 (Teddington, west London band) (Surrey Comet)

28 November – The Jaguars (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

4 December – The Bo-Sneakers (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

12 December – The Roosters (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

18 December – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)

26 December – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)

1965

I don’t have a complete entry for 1965 and would welcome any additions

2 January – The GTs (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

4 January – Alex Harvey & His Soul Band (Melody Maker)

9 January – The John Smith Group (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

15 February – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (Melody Maker)

20 February – John Brown’s Bodies (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

5 March – Alex Harvey & His Soul Band (Melody Maker)

6 March – The Rising Suns (all-nighter session) (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

1 May – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)

8 May – Teddy & The Dymes (Surrey Comet)

15 May – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)

22 May – Davey Sands & The Essex (Surrey Comet)

29 May – The Tribe (Surrey Comet)

3 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Surrey Comet) This may have been 2 June

5 June – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)

12 June – Ancient Britons and Twinkle (Surrey Comet)

19 June – The Just Five and The Exciting Rippers (Surrey Comet)

26 June – The RBQ (Surrey Comet)

3 July – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

10 July – Davey Sands & The Essex (Surrey Comet)

17 July – The Shanes (Surrey Comet)

24 July – The Dagoes (Surrey Comet)

31 July – The Lonely Ones (Surrey Comet)

4 August – Sugar Pie Desanto, The Shevelles and The Backbeats (Surrey Comet)

7 August – The Small Faces (Surrey Comet)

15 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Surrey Comet) This might be 14 August

20 August – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Surrey Comet)

21 August – Davey Sands & The Essex (Surrey Comet)

25 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Surrey Comet)

28 August – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)

3 September – The Small Faces (Surrey Comet)

10 September – The Moody Blues (Surrey Comet)

11 September – Heart and Souls, The Valkeries and The Right Track (Surrey Comet)

15 September – Lou Johnson (Surrey Comet)

24 September – The In Crowd (Surrey Comet)

1 October – The Artwoods (Surrey Comet)

2 October – The Valkeries and The Geordies (Surrey Comet)

9 October – The Lonely Ones, The Shakedowns, The Flashbakks and Kiko 6 (Surrey Comet)

15 October – Steampacket with Long John Baldry, The Brian Auger Trinity, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll and Next of Kin (Surrey Comet)

23 October – The Lonely Ones (Surrey Comet)

30 October – The Fetish Crowd (Surrey Comet)

3 November – Hedgehoppers Anonymous and Randy’s Incaras (Surrey Comet)

5 November – The Lonely Ones (Surrey Comet)

19 November – The Phil Wainman Sound (Surrey Comet)

20 November – The Lonely Ones and Junior Ervin and The Midnite Hours (Surrey Comet)

24 November – The Small Faces (Surrey Comet)

26 November – The Clayton Squares (Surrey Comet)

3 December – The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

10 December – The Clayton Squares (Surrey Comet)

11 December – The New Breed (Surrey Comet)

17 December – Sons of Fred (Surrey Comet)

23 December – The New Jump Band (Bob Hodges’ diary)

1966

This is an incomplete list and I would welcome any additions

7 January – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)

8 January – The Anteeks (New Musical Express)

14 January – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)

15 January – Next of Kin (New Musical Express)

22 January – The Flashbacks (New Musical Express)

28 January – Big Jump Band (aka New Jump Band) (Bob Hodges’ diary)

29 January – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)

4 February – The Big Sound (New Musical Express)

5 February – Group Survival (New Musical Express)

11 February – Jimmy Winston & The Rebels (New Musical Express)

12 February – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)

16 February – The Small Faces (New Musical Express)

18 February – The Lovin Kind (New Musical Express)

19 February – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (New Musical Express)

25 February – Jimmy Winston’s Reflections (New Musical Express)

26 February – The Marvels (New Musical Express) Colin Stoddart says his band The Candles also played on this date

4 March – Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours (New Musical Express)

5 March – The Night Society (New Musical Express)

12 March – The New Jump Band (New Musical Express)

18 March – Jimmy Winston’s Reflections (New Musical Express)

19 March – The John Warner Sound (New Musical Express)

23 March – The Nashville Teens (New Musical Express)

25 March – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)

26 March – The New Jump Band (New Musical Express)

30 March – The John Warner Sound (New Musical Express)

1 April – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)

2 April – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)

8 April – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)

9 April – The Beat Syndicate (New Musical Express)

10 April – The Silence (New Musical Express)

15 April – The Sons of Fred (New Musical Express)

16 April – The Night Society (New Musical Express)

17 April – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (New Musical Express)

22 April – The Silence (New Musical Express)

23 April – The New Jump Band (New Musical Express)

29 April – The Protest (New Musical Express)

30 April – The Silence (the group changed name to John’s Children) (New Musical Express)

5 May – The Pages Five (New Musical Express)

6 May – The Troggs (New Musical Express)

8 May – The Jaguars (New Musical Express)

13 May – Jimmy Winston & The Reflections (New Musical Express)

13 May – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)

20 May – The Voyd (New Musical Express)

21 May – Time-Flys (New Musical Express)

27 May – The Legend (New Musical Express)

28 May – The Void (New Musical Express)

3 June – The Daisys (New Musical Express)

4 June – John Brown’s Bodies and Jesse Hector (New Musical Express)

10 June – John Hilton Starr & The Savages (New Musical Express)

11 June – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)

12 June – Froy Talbert (New Musical Express)

13 June – The Small Faces (New Musical Express)

17 June – The Voyd (New Musical Express)

18 June – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)

24 June – John Hilton Starr & The Savages (New Musical Express)

25 June – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (New Musical Express)

1 July – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)

2 July – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)

8 July – The Troggs and The Wild Uncertainty (their debut) (New Musical Express)

16 July – The Wild Uncertainty (New Musical Express)

22 July – The Wild Uncertainty (New Musical Express)

23 July – The Flashbacks (New Musical Express)

29 July – The Night Society (New Musical Express)

30 July – The Subjects (New Musical Express)

6 August – Jo Jo Gunne (took part in London Palladium competition around now)

12 August – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)

13 August – The Missing Links (New Musical Express)

19 August – Cream (New Musical Express)

20 August – The Night Society (New Musical Express)

26 August – The Graham Bond Organisation (New Musical Express)

27 August – Four Plus a Bit (New Musical Express)

The Kingston & Malden Borough News ran an article on the club’s closure which was published in its 9 December 1966 issue on page 4 with the headline: “Cellar club ‘killed by drugs’ is sold to bingo syndicate”.

Categories: England

Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers

February 10, 2014 Nick Warburton 1 Comment

Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers (May 1965-August 1965)

Simon Scott – lead vocals
Mick Stewart – lead guitar
Ron Thomas – bass
Don Martin – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Dave Mahoney – sax
Eddie Thorpe – drums

Ron Thomas, Don Martin, Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney had all recently worked with Mike Dee & The Prophets alongside singer Mick Wheeler (aka Mike Dee), lead guitarist Dave Claridge and drummer Ken Hope.

When Mick Stewart replaced Dave Claridge on lead guitar in late April/early May 1965, Mick Wheeler and Ken Hope decided to leave the band and The Prophets split up.

Mick Stewart was responsible for the link up with Simon Scott, who he’d previously worked with. With music impresario Robert Stigwood representing the band, the remaining Prophets changed name to The All-Nite Workers, taking the name and spelling from the Rufus Thomas song.

Stewart had previously played with the Ealing version of The Redcaps and brought in Eddie Thorpe from that group.

On 15 May, two days after Mike Dee & The Prophets formally split, the group met with Simon Scott for a rehearsal at Rayrick Sound in Hampstead. Two days later, the musicians met Robert Stigwood for a meeting with his Starlight Agency in London. Then, on 19 May, they returned to Rayrick Sound for a second rehearsal with Simon Scott.

On 25 May 1965, Simon Scott and The All-Nite Workers recorded “Tell Him I’m Not Home” (featuring Goldie & The Gingerbreads on backing vocals) at Regent Sound Studios in Denmark Street along with a track that was never released – “Simon Says”. The former track was subsequently coupled with an earlier recording – “Heart Cry” for a lone single on Parlophone, released on 25 June 1965.

Scott performed the A-side on Ready Steady Go, which was recorded at Studio one in Wembley on 2 July and broadcast on 9 July. Also on the same show were The Yardbirds, The Dave Clark Five, The Ivy League, Zoot Money Big Roll Band, Lulu and Goldie & The Gingerbreads.

Stigwood, who was acting as manager by this point, also arranged for the band to record an album’s worth of material at Regent Sound over a two-week period in late May-early June. The album, which contained tracks like “Last Night”, “Watermelon Man”, “Night Train”, “Land of a Thousand Dances” and “Mr Pitiful”, has never been released.

On 23 June, the band cut two tracks with Simon Scott at Rayrick Sound, Hampstead that were never released – “Son This Is She” and “One Kiss”.

After rehearsals at the Viaduct and King’s Arms pubs in Hanwell (just down the road from Jim Marshall’s shop), Trafalgar School in Twickenham and Northfields Community Centre, The All-Nite Workers participated in a short UK tour with Simon Scott from late June-late July, travelling as far north as the Drill Hall, Dumfries and as far south as the Bude Country Club, Eastleigh.

On 30 July, Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers attended Rayrick Studio in Hampstead to rehearse two songs with the intention of recording them – “Oo Wee Baby” and “Better Get A Move On”. On 3 August they had a second rehearsal but a recording on 5 August was cancelled, possibly because the relationship between the musicians and Scott was coming to an end.

Shortly after a final gig in Greenford on 15 August 1965, the band left Simon Scott. The musicians worked independently as The All-Nite Workers until about September/October 1965 when they joined forces with future Sweet producer Phil Wainman.

Drummer Phil Wainman replaced Eddie Thorpe who had left to work with Simon Raverne in Jersey and then, ironically, The Hi-Grades (Wainman’s old band).

Gig list:

22 May 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Hysters (most likely without Simon Scott)

5 June 1965 – Half-way House, Southall, Middlesex with Four Jacks and a Joker (most likely without Simon Scott)

25 June 1965 – Cheltenham Spa, Town Hall, Cheltenham

26 June 1965 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Shames

30 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

3 July 1965 – Carlisle Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Sax-Band

9 July 1965 – Winchester Lido Ballroom, Winchester, Hampshire with The Del Rio Four

10 July 1965 – Bure Country Club, Mudeford, Dorset with The Bunch

16 July 1965 – Southsea Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hants with The Informers

19 July 1965 – Shrewsbury Mons Ballroom (van ran out of petrol on the way back)

22 July 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

23 July 1965 – Harwich Town Hall, Harwich, Suffolk (cancelled)

24 July 1965 – Dumfries Drill Hall, Dumfries, Scotland with Simon’s Gentlemen (billed as The Nightriders)

6 August 1965 – Welfare Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire (cancelled)

7 August 1965 – Justin Hall, West Wickham, London with C-Jam Blues

8 August 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey

10 August 1965 – (Top Hat?), Littlehampton, West Sussex (cancelled)

14 August 1965 – Il Rondo Ballroom, Leicester

15 August 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, west London

To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

Many people helped piece this story together. My personal thanks go to: Don Martin, who shared his diary and live dates from 1965. Thanks also to Ron Thomas, Mel Wayne, Mick Stewart, Simon Scott, Brian Hosking and Phil Wainman.

Categories: England

Mike Dee & The Prophets

February 9, 2014 Nick Warburton 2 Comments

Mike Dee & The Prophets or The Mike Dee Combo as they were originally known were formed in late August/early September 1964 after singer Mick Wheeler, guitarist Dave Claridge and bass player Ron Thomas had left Guitars Incorporated to form a new outfit.

Wheeler had originally been a rhythm guitarist in Twickenham band, The Paragons in the late 1950s before joining The Jaywalkers around February 1961. Assuming the stage name, Mike Dee, he had fronted the group (which later included future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore) until May 1962, at which point he joined the parachute regiment in the Territorial Army.

Returning to civilian life, he joined Guitars Incorporated, an instrumental band based in Southall, Middlesex around April/May 1964. (Ed. They may have briefly been known as Mike Dee & The Moquettes.)

Guitars Incorporated had been formed years earlier by bass player Ron Thomas, who’d grown up near the Cuckoo estate in Hanwell, Middlesex, and lead guitarist Peter Kindel; both having met at Brentside Secondary School in Greenford, Middlesex.

With a drummer and second guitarist Dave Claridge, who lived around the Carshalton, Surrey area and also worked for Melody Maker, they recorded some demos at Abbey Road.

Then, around the summer of 1964, Wheeler joined as lead singer and Thomas’s childhood friend, Johnny Hickson came in on drums. Not long after, however, Wheeler, Claridge and Thomas decided to put together an entirely new group.

Mike Dee & The Prophets/Mike Dee Combo (September 1964-May 1965)

Mick Wheeler (aka Mike Dee) – lead vocals
Dave Claridge – lead guitar
Ron Thomas – bass
Don Martin – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Dave Mahoney – sax
Ken Hope – drums

Besides Wheeler, Thomas and Claridge, the original Prophets also included sax player Dave Mahoney, a friend of Ron Thomas’s from Brentside Secondary School in Greenford. Thomas also brought in his childhood friend from Hanwell, Don Martin, who was fooling around on the piano one day at Hanwell Community Centre when he was given the invite to join the fledgling group.

Mel Wayne (aka Melvyn Hoskins) was from the Twickenham area and was brought in by Mick Wheeler after playing with Colin Shane & The Shannons, who also featured Colin Shane (lead vocals); Dave Mumford (lead guitar); Dick Merrit (bass); Dave King (rhythm guitar) and Alan Worrell (drums).

The Prophets used another drummer initially before Ken Hope, who was Mick Wheeler’s best man at his wedding on 27 February 1965, came on board after playing in The Tony Meehan Combo.

Managed by Mac McQueen, Mike Dee & The Prophets rehearsed at a community centre in Northfields before hitting the road. On 31 January 1965, the group participated in a photo shoot in Gunnersbury’s Park near Chiswick.

On 25 April 1965, the band auditioned at Rocky Rivers, a studio on Tottenham Court Road, which may have been when they were spotted by Australian impresario and entertainment entrepreneur Robert Stigwood, who signed them to his agency, the Robert Stigwood Organisation.

Soon after the link up with Stigwood, Dave Claridge left and Ron Thomas invited guitarist Mick Stewart, a friend from the Cuckoo estate in Hanwell, to replace him.

Mick Stewart had previously filled in briefly as a guitarist for Screaming Lord Sutch’s backing band, The Savages and also played with The Ealing Redcaps.

The Redcaps in November 1964 with Mick Stewart (far right)

More recently, Stewart had played with Indian-born singer Simon Scott and Stigwood arranged for The Prophets to become Scott’s new support band after he had split from The Leroys.

Mick Wheeler decided that he’d had enough and left with drummer Ken Hope. Mike Dee & The Prophets broke up on 13 May 1965.

The remaining members brought in Mick Stewart’s friend Eddie Thorpe on drums and assumed a new name – The All Nite Workers, taken from the Rufus Thomas song. By September/October of that year, the group had undergone several personnel changes and become The Phil Wainman Band.

In mid-1966, Mick Wheeler and Ken Hope returned to the live scene with a new outfit, interestingly also called The All Night Workers. Wheeler would later work with Jo Jo Gunne and The Love Affair.

Notable gigs:

1 January 1965 – Putney Ballroom, Putney, Middlesex with Roger Evans Combo and Louisiana Stompers

2 January 1965 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Dave & The Allies and Roger Evans Combo

17 January 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

22 January 1965 – Surbiton Assembly Rooms, Surbiton, Surrey

29 January 1965 – Cambridge Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey (Youth Club Dance)

2 February 1965 – Alamo, Acton, Middlesex

7 February 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

12 February 1965 – Taggs Island Casino, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Annual Press Ball) with Roger and Caroline

13 February 1965 – Kingston Technical College, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Alexis Korner

19 February 1965 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey

20 February 1965 – Goldhawk Social Club, Shepherd’s Bush

5 March 1965 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, Middlesex (Ealing Football Club Dance)

6 March 1965 – Flamingo, London with Errol Dixon and Tony Knights Chessmen

7 March 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

14 March 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with The Who

20 March 1965 – London Transport Dance at Gunnersbury Lane

21 March 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

24 March 1965 – Heatham House, Twickenham, Middlesex

26 March 1965 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex

27 March 1965 – Kingston Technical College, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Champion Jack Dupree and The Sheffields

2 April 1965 – Cambridge Club, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey

3 April 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with Tony Knight & The Livewires

12 April 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

23 April 1965 – Zephyr Club, Little Chalfont

24 April 1965 – Wiggin Hall, Mortlake, Surrey

2 May 1965 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

8 May 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with J J & The Challengers

13 May 1965 – Mike Dee & The Prophets split up

To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

Many people helped piece this story together. My personal thanks go to: Don Martin for sharing his diary and the band dates. Also thanks to Mick Wheeler, Ron Thomas, Mel Wayne, Mick Stewart and Brian Hosking.

Categories: England

Teddy Raye and his British bands

February 9, 2014 Nick Warburton 7 Comments

French rock ‘n’ roll singer Teddy Raye may not be familiar to English-speaking aficionados of 1960s rock music, but in his homeland he had quite a following.

While Raye never really attempted to break into the English-speaking market, during the years 1963-1965 he recruited a succession of British bands to back him on the club scene in Spain and North Africa. Some of these musicians went on to interesting groups/projects in later years.

The Victors

One of Raye’s earliest dabbles in the British rock market took place in June 1964 when he turned up at the Latin Quarter in Wardour Street, Soho and caught Welsh group The Victors playing at the Van Gogh Bar upstairs.

Formed in south Wales in late 1963, the band’s line up consisted of lead singer Brian Gibson, guitarist Pete Rowles, bass player and singer Jack Russell and drummer Terry Gittins.

Moving to London in January 1964, the quartet successfully auditioned at the Latin Quarter and on Saturdays covered the lunchtime spot at the Van Gogh Bar above, earning about £20 a week. It was here in early June that Raye caught their act.

“Teddy offered us $200 a month all found if we went with him to fulfil a contract he had in Malaga,” remembers Russell.

“He had found Paul Degis [from East London], who played vox organ and two tenor sax players – a guy called Ray and Maurice O’Connell. We rehearsed twice.”

Since Raye would be handling lead vocals, Brian Gibson wasn’t needed for the foreign trip and left to work (and record) with The Laurie Jay Combo.

“In a frantic week of activity we left London on the train with all of our gear and arrived in Paris,” continues Russell.

“From there we took another train to Hendaye/Irun, changed trains onto the Spanish system and got to Madrid where we changed stations and trains again for Malaga. The trip took four days and was exhausting humping gear, amps, drum kits etc from train to train.”

The gig that Raye had lined up was between Malaga and Marbella on the Costa Del Sol. Russell remembers it as a custom-built complex with a nightclub that had a stage over a large kidney-shaped swimming pool.

Socialising with a Cuban band called Los Matecocos, who were staying in a nearby villa, Russell says that the Costa Del Sol was in its early stages of development (“it was still a rich man’s destination”) and the expensive surroundings meant that the band usually played to only half a dozen people!

“We got paid for a while then the owner did a bunk and we were left with nothing to do,” says Russell on the dramatic turn of events.

“This must have been the end of August. We went first to a hotel in Algeciras where we stayed for about 10 days while Teddy went to Morocco to find work.”

Not surprisingly, the loss of work unsettled the group and the first to crack was lead guitarist Pete Rowles who returned to Wales, joined soon after by Terry Gittins. According to Russell the pair formed a new band back home and issued a single but he can’t recall any other details.

Rowles, who was something of a local legend, is now living in an old people’s home in Pontypool. As for Gittins, he may well be the same player that went on to work with Heron in the late 1960s.

Joined by two French musicians, the new line up took the ferry to Tangier and then the train to Rabat where they backed Raye at several clubs, ending up in Casablanca. During this short episode, the band appeared on an hourly TV show for four weeks.

However, inevitably it couldn’t last and around November 1964, the entire band walked away from Raye and returned home to their respective countries.

While little is known about Paul Degis’s subsequent career, Maurice O’Connell became a noted actor and later moved back to Spain. Russell remembers an exhausting journey home from Morocco to south Wales.

“I sold all of my gear. I had two double 12” cabinets and a large amp as well as my guitar and simply couldn’t transport it home,” he recalls.

“I bought gold because it was impossible to get currency out of Morocco. I bought a train ticket from Thomas Cook in Casablanca, which cost me £5 and took me all the way from Casa to Newport High Street. I had no money left. The trip took four days and was an ordeal.”

After returning home to recover, Russell joined Vox in Dartford, Kent in March 1965 but was soon contacted by former Victors’ lead singer Brian Gibson with a proposition to travel to South Africa as a member of The 004.

Put together by former Dusty Springfield & The Echoes lead guitarist Pete Clifford, The 004 sailed for Durban in June 1965 and quickly became a top draw, even backing rock ‘n’ roll legend Gene Vincent for a short period later that year.

In 1967, Gibson left and later joined South African progressive rock band, Abstract Truth. The remaining members linked up with singer John Kongos and moved back to England where they recorded as Floribunda Rose. Clifford soon moved back to South Africa to join The Bats while the others stayed in London and recorded several singles as Scrugg.

Looking back on his Teddy Raye adventure, Russell has this to say: “I enjoyed the Teddy Raye time even though it was chaotic. I learned a lot. I have tried unsuccessfully to track down dear old Teddy. He was a great little tap dancer.”

The Tomcats

With Jack Russell and company out of the picture, Teddy Raye returned to the UK to recruit a new outfit to back him in Spain over the next few months.

Turning up at Beat City on Oxford Street around April 1965, he spotted West London group, The Second Thoughts, fronted by future Nirvana lead singer Patrick Campbell-Lyons.

With a tenor sax player called Rudi already lined up, Raye completed his new backing group by lifting lead guitarist Tony Duhig, bass player Mickey Holmes and drummer Speedy Keene from The Second Thoughts and returned as The Tomcats.

“Franco was still around and apart from threatening to arrest us for long hair they called the band The Gatos Salvaje (The Savage Cats) as they didn’t have a direct translation for a Tomcat,” says Holmes.

Unfortunately for Raye, it was another short-lived project, as Holmes continues. “He wanted a long-haired Brit backing band for a month in Madrid initially. [But] we were the main attraction and we went back a second time [on our own] this time to other northern cities.”

Returning to London in May 1965 to save gig money for journey back to Spain, Tony Duhig, Mickey Holmes and Speedy Keene brought in their former Second Thoughts band mate Jon Field on organ and added singer Tom Newman from local rivals, The Tomcats.

Within a month, however, Keene had left to join The Rockin’ Eccentrics in Italy and was replaced by Chris Jackson from The Tomcats. Keene later went on to front Thunderclap Newman.

Renamed “Los Tomcats”, the musicians returned to Spain in June 1965 and stayed there until early 1967. Back in the UK, the group changed name to July and recorded an album and a string of singles. Duhig and Field subsequently formed Jade Warrior.

Los Swing-Stars

Left without a band again, Teddy Raye returned to London to recruit some more musicians for the summer season in Spain. The new line-up included Welshman, organist Mike Lease, who’d already cut a number of singles with The Zephyrs on the Fontana label and backed singer Beverly on the folk circuit.

Put together around June 1965 and dubbed “Los Swing-Stars”, Raye’s new group also comprised Mick Wilshire, a lead guitarist from Blackburn, Lancashire, who’d previously played with The Four Pennies, plus Londoners John Cooksey on bass and Peter Trout on drums.

“He came over [to London] and picked a few players out and I flew to Barcelona airport and was met there and we had contracts for one hundred quid a week; and he didn’t pay us,” Lease told the Liquorice Soul website.

“It ended up in a big fight. He smashed up all of our equipment and we were stuck out there without work permits and with the unions after us and everything.”

Renamed “El Conjunto Llamado Henri”, the quartet landed a regular, paid gig at the La Cabana nightclub in Sitges near Barcelona and remained there until the end of the season, around October 1965.

Having borrowed gear from local Barcelona bands (after Raye had smashed up most of their equipment, including Wilshire’s band-new Gibson SG, in a fit of rage), it wasn’t the last time they ran into their former employer.

“He threatened us with his revolver, periodically, and said he was going to pick us off from the beach fronting our regular gig at La Cabana,” remembers Lease. “Fortunately, nobody was shot.”

Back home in England, the group split up and John Cooksey ended up moving out to Australia; it can’t be said with any certainty but he may be the same John Cooksey who subsequently played bass with Perth outfit, The Valentines alongside future AC/DC singer Bon Scott.

Wilshire meanwhile struck gold, joining chart toppers The New Vaudeville Band. As for Peter Trout and Mike Lease, they reunited in the Studio G Project Beat Group.

Both were also briefly involved with Denny Laine during his Electric String Band period while Lease went on to become an integral member of progressive rock band, Freedom alongside former Procol Harum members Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison.

To contact the author with any photos or updates please email: Warchive@aol.com

Many thanks to Jack Russell, Mike Lease, Mike Holmes and Jon Field for their input.

Categories: England, Middlesex, Parlophone, Pye Records

The Legends

February 6, 2014 Nick Warburton 10 Comments

Peter Watkinson – lead vocals
Kevin Sparkes – rhythm guitar, organ
Keith Kendall – lead guitar
Rick Eagles – bass
Tony Watkinson – drums, vocals

Hayes, Middlesex-based brothers Peter and Tony Watkinson had formed the band in the early 1960s as The Limelites and were joined at some point by rhythm guitarist Kevin Sparkes.

In 1963, Rick Eagles, who’d previously played rhythm guitar with Wembley, Middlesex band The Delta 5 alongside future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper, joined the Limelites on bass. Soon after, they became resident Sunday night band at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote, Middlesex.

During mid-1964, Peter Watkinson caught another Hayes band, Brian & The Fantoms playing at the Seagull Hotel in Southall and was impressed by The Fantoms’ lead guitarist Keith Kendall, whose father was Watkinson’s manager at EMI Electronics.

Hillingdon Mirror 29 September 1964 page 5

Not long after, Watkinson changed the group’s name to the Legends and secured a recording deal with Pye Records.

Paired with legendary producer Joe Meek, the band cut a lone single, Peter Watkinson’s “Looking For Her” c/w “I’m Coming Home”, which was issued as The First Impressions in March 1965 to avoid confusion with Twickenham, Middlesex group, The Legend.

However, when the US soul band, The Impressions threatened a law suit, the musicians were forced to revert back to The Legends for a second single on Pye – Peter Watkinson’s “I’ve Found Her” c/w “Something’s Gonna Happen” in July 1965.

When the two singles failed to dent the charts, Keith Kendall departed in late 1965/early 1966 and re-joined Brian & The Fantoms for a few months before subsequently joining Hayes group, Four Point Five, which also worked as The Soul System. In the late 1960s/early 1970s, Kendall hooked up with The All Night Workers.

Kendall’s initial replacement was a lead guitarist called Ron, who was joined soon after by second lead player Ian Hollands. Hollands had previously worked with Ealing, Middlesex group, Frankie Reid & The Casuals between 1962-1963 and then a Teddington, Middlesex band (possibly Unit 4).

Towards the end of 1966, the band underwent further changes as both Rick Eagles (who hooked up with Tony Knight’s Chessmen) and the lead guitarist called Ron departed to make way for siblings Terry Williams on trumpet/vocals and Ian Williams on bass. By November, Kevin Sparkes, who’d moved on to Hammond C3, had also left to make way for Russ Pinder.

The Hillingdon Mirror ran article and photo on the new formation in its 28 March 1967 issue, page 24.

That same month, The Legends finally returned with a second single on the Parlophone label – a cover of Boyce & Hart’s “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” backed by Peter Watkinson’s “Nobody Laughs Anymore”.

The Hillingdon Mirror ran another article and photos of the band in its 11 July 1967 issue, page 32 (see above).

That same month, The Legends released their final single on Parlophone – Peter Watkinson’s “Under The Sky” c/w “Twenty Four Hours A Day”.

When the band broke up in late 1967, Hollands played guitar on some demos that Peter Watkinson recorded in his home studio before going on to work with Hayes, west London group, The Magic Roundabout.

Thanks to Keith Kendall and Ian Hollands for providing background information on the band.

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

Selected gigs (also see comments below):

30 January 1965 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford with The Puppets (Oxford Mail)

5 June 1965 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford with The Pressmen (Oxford Mail)

14 August 1965 – Orchid Room, Oxford with The Beat Merchants (Oxford Mail)

21 September 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London Paul Dean & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

26 October 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London with The Creed (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

16 November 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London with The Creed (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

17 December 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London Paul Dean & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

16 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, west London (Hillingdon Mirror)

Categories: England, Parlophone, Surrey, Woking

The Pentad

February 3, 2014 Nick Warburton 9 Comments

Pentad Woking Herald 1965 June 11 — The Pentad featured in the Woking Herald and News, June 11, 1965

Terry Crowe – lead vocals
Mike Fitzpatrick – lead guitar
Roger Hanks – piano, organ
Mick Dunford – bass
Peter Garland-Jones – drums

A Woking, Surrey band that was formed around April 1965 from the ashes of The Plebs, The Pentad was led by singer Terry Crowe, who together with Mick Dunford, had been an original member of The Nashville Teens.

The band’s debut single “Silver Dagger” c/w “Nothing But Love” came out on Parlophone in June 1965. The group recorded a second single, “Don’t Throw It All Away” c/w “Too Many Ways”, which was released later that year.

Pentad’s third and final release, “Something Other People Call Love” c/w “It Better Be Me”, was issued in March 1966. Dunford later became a member of Renaissance.

The Woking Herald provided good source material.

Notable gigs

11 June 1965 – Walton Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

15 June 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Unit 4 + 2 (Eastern Evening News)

20 June 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

27 June 1965 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk (Lynn News)

16 July 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

17 July 1965 – Orchid Room, Oxford with The Vibros (Oxford Mail)

19 August 1965 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News) Billed as The Pentab

31 August 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Them (Eastern Evening News)

31 August 1965 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with Stu James & The Mojos (Essex County Times)

1 September 1965 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & The Dorothy Orchestra and The Dawnbreakers (Cambridge News)

15 September 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

24 September 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Basildon, Essex with The Paramounts and The Transatlantics (Southend Standard)

2 October 1965 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News)

9 November 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

22 January 1966 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with James King & The Farinas (Lynn News)

29 January 1966 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northants with The Brumbeats (Wellingborough News)

5 February 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

12 February 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Other Five (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

13 February 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

The Pentad, Woking News and Mail, 29 May 1965

Categories: England

The Plebs

January 27, 2014 Nick Warburton 14 Comments

Terry Crowe – lead vocals
Mick Dunford – lead guitar
Danny McCulloch – bass
Chris Dennis – keyboards
Derek Sirmon – drums

An historically interesting band, The Plebs were formed around May 1964 after former Nashville Teens members Terry Crowe and Mick Dunford joined forces with Danny McCulloch and Derek Sirmon, who had previously worked together in Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages and before that Frankie Reid & The Casuals.

Mick Dunford (aka Mick Forde) had started out with Weybridge, Surrey band, The Cruisers Rock Combo while Sirmon had once been a member of The Conchords (Mungo Jerry in its early days) and then Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers with Ritchie Blackmore on lead guitar.

The Plebs were all experienced professional musicians (one of the members trained at the Royal Military School of Music) and could play anything from modern jazz to rock ‘n’ roll to ballroom.

After backing Jess Conrad and Mark Wynter on the road, The Plebs signed to Decca Records and released a lone single, a cover of The Coasters’ “Bad Blood” c/w “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, in October 1964.

That same month, the band accompanied the internationally acclaimed American modern ballet company the Alvin Ailey dance show at London’s Shaftsbury Theatre, which proved to be a long and successful engagement. However, this took them out of the “loop” with bookers for rock venues.

The Plebs went on to become the backing band for Jerry Lee Lewis on a European tour. The band can be seen on Ready Steady Go on YouTube playing “High Heel Sneakers” and “Whole lot of shakin’” with Lewis.

In early 1965, the band played at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany and then appeared in the film Be My Guest (again with Jerry Lee Lewis).

A few months later, the group went back to Germany without Derek (Degs) Sirmon who had got married. In his place, The Plebs took replacement drummer Dave Maine, who been with original Nashville Teens.

Differences in the band, however, saw its break-up in spring 1965 with Crowe and Dunford forming The Pentad. Both are now deceased.

As for the other members, Chris Dennis later moved to Italy where he teaches English.

Danny McCulloch meanwhile went on to work with singer Tony Sheridan and then spent a brief period of time in Germany in a “scratch” band with Ritchie Blackmore.

Back in the UK, he briefly hooked up with The Carl Douglas Set in the summer of 1966 before joining Eric Burdon’s New Animals later that year. He still composes and produces music and advertisements.

Derek Sirmon became a company director but is now retired.

Notable gigs

5 September 1964 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Surrey Comet)

16 November 1964 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with Jimmy Reed and John Lee Groundhogs (Surrey Comet)

4 December 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Jerry Lee Lewis, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The Hideaways (Streatham News)

6 March 1965 – Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Daniel & The Emeralds (Surrey Advertiser)

Huge thanks to Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch for providing information on the band. I would also like to credit the Woking Herald for source material.

Categories: Netra, Port Arthur, Rite Record Productions custom pressings, Spindletop, Texas

Curt Block

January 17, 2014 Chris Bishop 16 Comments

Curt Block has a great garage single in October ’65, “She’s My Kind” that I’ve been trying to find for some time now. I still haven’t found a copy of that one, but recently I picked up one I hadn’t known of before, his 45 on Spindletop with the Dreamlites.

I don’t know much about Curt Block but I did find one mention on the Port Arthur News from December 8, 1974: “the Port Arthur Merry Mixers Club will dance to the music of ‘Curt Block and the Velvets’ from 8-11 p.m on Tuesday in the K C Hall, 315 Hardy, Nederland. The club is open to all single adults 18 years or older, but all married couples who met in the single movement are invited”.

By the time of that article Curt had been in the music business over 10 years. His 45 on Spindletop SR-45010 is from about 1963, featuring a vocal ballad “It’s Raining Again” (R. Philen) on the top side, backed with one of the shortest cuts I’ve ever seen on a pre-punk 45, the sax & guitar instrumental “Hang Out”, written by Block but credited to only the Dreamlites. Both songs were published by Neches Music BMI.

I asked Curt about his time in these bands and wrote to me:

In the Dreamlites I was only 16. Ray Fallon, sax, he went on to play for Roy Orbison. The guys in my band were Billy Robbins, Bill Iron, Dwight Landry, Ronnie Maxie, Mike Duhon. I played guitar of course. A TV show called Jive at Five had me and the band on many times.
I sang some with Johnny Preston and Jivin’ Gene, really great guys. I played 4 and 5 nights a week for many many years.

Spindletop had well over a dozen releases beginning about 1961, including a couple in-demand soul discs by Talmadge Armstrong and by Al Trahan. Curt Block’s single came about halfway through Spindle’s releases.

In October of 1965 he had another 45, this time credited to Curt Block & the Vibrations. The Vibrations were:

Curt Block – guitar and lead vocals
Billy Robbins – rhythm guitar and back up vocals
Dwight Landry – bass guitar
Bill Irion – drums
Ronnie Maxey – sax
Carl Boettger – sax
Mike Duhom – trumpet

I haven’t heard the top side yet, “With This Ring”, but the flip is excellent garage as long as you’re not one of the types that prefer their r&r without saxophone.

Curtis Block wrote both songs, published by Neches Music, BMI and recorded at L & F Recording Service in Port Arthur. Both Netra and Spindletop were based in Port Arthur, which was also home to the Basic Things who I’ve covered on this site. Like the Spindletop single, the Netra 45 is a Rite pressing.

Curt had one more single that I know of, “Hey Little Girl” / “You Were Mine” on the Gina label – if anyone has scans of this single please contact me.

Thank you to Tori and to Greg & Linda Haynes for sending in the photo of the band at top. Tori’s uncle Dwight Landry played bass with the group. Dwight passed away on April 20, 2014. Thanks also to Deborah for the caption to the photo, she reports her uncle Bill Irion passed away on August 20, 2015.

If anyone has a copy of the Netra or Gina singles for sale, or a photo of Curt Block with one of his ’60s groups, or knows any of the members of the Dreamlites or the Vibrations, please contact me.

Curt Block Vibrations Netra 45 With This Ring

Categories: La Louisianne, Lafayette, Louisiana, Montel-Michelle

The Rogues & the Dry Grins

January 13, 2014 Chris Bishop 11 Comments

The Rogues from Lafayette, Louisiana had two excellent 45s, both very rare now, I don’t own either one.

They seem to have had some lineup changes during their existence. Members included Fred Brechtel on lead vocals, Mark MacDiarmid (or McDiarmid) on lead guitar (and lead vocals on “I Don’t Need You”), Mike Schwartz on rhythm guitar, Tommy Withrow on keyboards, John Bonar on bass, and Glen Hebert on drums.

Cyril Vetter of the Greek Fountains saw the Rogues and produced a release for them on the Montel-Michelle label, though he changed the band’s name temporarily to the Dry Grins. The Dry Grins release has the teen loser lament, “She’s a Drag”, written by Fred Brechtel for Red Stick Music, backing the only slightly more commercial “You’re Through”. It was produced by Cyril Vetter & Sam Montel, and released as the Montel-Michelle M/M-959 (74 M/M 14) circa late 1965.

Well, I’m walking down the street with my left hand in my pocket,
And some chick walks up and says,
“Make a switch man, you’re on the wrong side of the street”
Well, I looked up and turned around to see the people watching,
My left hand still in my pocket,
And then she started to laugh.
I had both hands in my pocket and I said, “Baby, you’re a drag”
Well, she’s a drag, yeah, a big ole drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ole drag,
Like a trip, baby
Well, I used to dig a chick … [?]
Cause I’m a stubborn fellow, you know,
And I got to get her, [?]
But that turned into a great big drag.
Well, she’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
Well, she’s a drag,
Like an albatross
Well, she said get back, come back and don’t you cry,
I turned around and said to her, “Baby, you’re a drag”
Well she’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
She’s a drag, yeah, a big ol’ drag,
Well she’s a drag,
She’s gone, baby

The Rogues second 45 has “Tonight” which Teen Beat Mayhem describes as “swamp-pop ballad with crooner vocals.” on the A-side. On the flip is “I Dont Need You”, one of their best songs, the opening drum roll leading into a blast of sound that keeps up throughout the song.

Both sides written and sung by Mark McDiarmid for La Lou Music, and released on the La Louisianne label, LL-8094-B, in April of ’67.

Andrew Brown wrote that Tommy Withrow joined a group called the Swingin’ Machine, obviously unrelated to the now-legendary Swinging Machine from South Norfolk, VA.

I used to believe the band had a third single, “Put You Down” b/w a version of “Stormy Monday Blues”, but that turns out to be a group from Alabama, which makes sense as MBM was a Birmingham label and “Put You Down” does not have keyboards unlike the other songs by the Rogues from Louisiana.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Categories: Delcrest, Kentucky, Louisville

The Waters “Day In and Out” / “Mother Samwell” on Delcrest

December 29, 2013 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

The Waters: clockwise from left: John Burgard, Ray Barrickman and John Mackey

The Waters was a Louisville, Kentucky group with John Burgard guitar and vocals, Ray Barrickman bass guitar and vocals, and John Mackey on drums.

Their first 45 on the Soul Blvd. label was “Lady in the Field” (Barrickman and Burgard) / “American Cheese” (Barrickman, Burgard and Mackay) – I haven’t heard it yet.

Their second 45 features two excellent originals by Burgard and Barrickman, the upbeat pop song “Day In and Out” and the stupendous freakbeat of “Mother Samwell”.

Released on the one-off Delcrest label in January of ’69, all copies I’ve seen have white labels with black print. Promo copies exist on the Hip label, a Stax subsidiary from March of ’69, but that issue seems to be much rarer. Production was by Paine-Baker. Paine was Stuart Paine, who owned the Soul Blvd label.

John Burgard had an earlier group called Jonah and the Wailers with Chris and Courtney Johns that opened for the Rolling Stones at Memorial Auditorium. Burgard visited San Francisco in ’67 then returned to Louisville to form the Waters.

The Waters broke up in 1972 and Burgard went on to form CoCo Morgan and other groups.

Ray Barrickman previously played bass and sang in the Oxfords. He later played bass in Hank Williams Jr.’s band for a couple decades, and more recently was in a reformed version of another legendary Louisville group, Soul, Inc..

Thank you to Brian Talley for sending in the photo of the band – if anyone has other photos of the group please contact me.

Background on John Burgard from “I’ve Got A Mind To Ramble” by Keith S. Clements.

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The Waters “Day In and Out” / “Mother Samwell” on Delcrest

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