West London six-piece horn band Simon K & The Meantimers recorded a Hammond-drenched dance-floor classic called “Bring Your Love Back (To Me)”, which was coupled with “You Know I Do” for a UK single on the B&C label in November 1969.

Fronted by current Hot Chocolate lead singer Kenny Simon, The Meantimers had originally formed around mid-1964 in West Hampstead before linking with Simon.

Managed by Arthur Armes, father of the band’s drummer Michael, the original Meantimers also comprised lead guitarist Rick Thomas, classically trained organist Bill Pitt, bass player Warwick Rose and an Irish rhythm guitarist called Tony, who also handled lead vocals (sometimes with the group’s roadie Mick Eagan).

According to Michael Armes, his father turned the basement of his shop on Belsize Road in Kilburn into a rehearsal and recording room. It may well have been here that Simon cut some demos with West London band, The Tribe, including future Sweet guitarist Frank Torpey, that were picked up by Arthur Armes.

Former Overlanders’ bass player Paul Hewson had already taken over from Warwick Rose, who’d moved on to join The Soul Survivors, an early incarnation of The Love Affair, sometime before Kenny Simon joined on vocals.

It is not clear when Kenny Simon joined The Meantimers but he was definitely on-board by May 1966. Initially, they continued to be billed as The Meantimers but in early 1967 starting going out as Simon K & The Meantimers.

Selected gigs:

20 May 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

30 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The New Jump Band and Rey Anton & The Profam (billed as The Meantimers)

9 July 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Keith Powell Billie Davis Soul Package

30 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Creation

1 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers) Says direct from the Pontiac, Putney, London

7 August 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

15 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)

21 August 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

27 August 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Graham Bond Organization (billed as The Meantimers)

31 August 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Falling Leaves (billed as The Meantimers)

24 September 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Clockwork Shots

9 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

14 October 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex with support (billed as The Meantimers)

30 October 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Ian & Danny Eves and The Reformation (billed as The Meantimers)

3 November 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex

5 November 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Ironsides

9 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

13 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

21 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)

26 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The 13^th Floor (billed as The Meantimers)

A bass player called Terry briefly took over from Hewson in early 1967 but soon left to work in the West End as a scenery mover. Around the same time, former Quiet Five drummer Ray Hailey succeeded Michael Armes.

Selected gigs:

1 January 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

6 January 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)

14 January 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

19 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

21 January 1967 – Winter Gardens, Banbury with Phase III (billed as The Meantimers)

22 January 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

29 January 1967 – Embassy Club, Colchester, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation (billed as The Meantimers)

11 February 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Unloved (billed as The Meantimers)

19 February 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Neat Change

23 February 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Tender Trap (billed as The Meantimers)

26 February 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

11 March 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks (billed as Simon Dee & The Meantimers)

12 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, Essex with Pussyfoot (billed as The Meantimers)

1 April 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Sales Collection (billed as The Meantimers)

7 April 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)

9 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Rick and Us (billed as The Meantimers)

11 April 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (billed as The Meantimers)

12 April 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

16 April 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

22 April 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)

28 April 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with The Groove (billed as The Meantimers)

6 May 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The Strangers (billed as The Meantimers)

12 May 1967 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks (billed as Simon Kay)

13 May 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Just Friends, The Fugitives and The Martells

17 May 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

20 May 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (Billed as Simon K & The Meantimers)

21 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)

However, the changes did not end there and in early-to-mid-1967 an entirely new line up came together, starting with lead guitarist George Teo.

Originally, from Singapore, Teo had migrated to the UK in the early 1960s with friends Sam Young on bass and brothers Andrew and John Gwee on guitar and drums respectively and formed The Etceteras. After two singles on the Oriole label in 1964, Teo next joined the Ying Tongs before hooking up with The Meantimers.

Also on board were siblings, bass player Mick Glyde and drummer Tony Glyde (brothers of Major Glyde, the lead sax player from Sounds Incorporated) and sax players Brent Carter, Alan Wherry and Ken Hendy, who was later replaced by former Cliff Bennett Rebel Rousers’ baritone sax player Sid Phillips in late 1967/early 1968.

Tony Glyde had previously worked with Southeast London bands, Bob ‘N’ All, The Loose Ends and Bern Elliott’s former group, The Fenmen while Alan Wherry had come from The Richard Henry Sensation (with David O’List) and Harlem Shuffle (with Alan Shacklock). Brent Carter had also been a member of Harlem Shuffle.

Wherry remembers that the group also had a keyboard player but it wasn’t Bill Pitt. Mick Glyde confirms that the keyboard player’s name was Terry Vandenburgh. Vanenburgh however had left before Sid Phillips joined in late 1967/early 1968 and the group recruited a Russian Hammond organist.

Wherry left in early 1968 and later moved in to publishing, as director of Corgi, Penguin and then as co-founder of Bloomsbury in London in 1986.

The remaining members stayed until about late spring/early summer 1968, during which time former Quiet Five drummer Roger “Tex” Marsh took over the drum stool from Tony Glyde.

Selected gigs:

3 June 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Groove

4 June 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

6-7 June 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

10 June 1967 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Berkshire (Meantimers)

24 June 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)

1 July 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

2 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)

22 July 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Poor Boys Soul Band

29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk with The Blueprints (billed as The Meantimers)

5 August 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

6 August 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)

9 August 1967 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend, Kent

11 August 1967 – Windmill Club, Upminster, east London

20 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

25 August 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)

2 September 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

8 September 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

9 September 1967 – Framlingham Assembly Hall, Framlingham, Suffolk with The Wild Oats

17 September 1967 – Sunday’s Flower Scene, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire with Jeanette and Abee

23 September 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks

24 September 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

28 September 1967 – Wexham Lea Youth Club, Slough, Berkshir with Rick Marston

7 October 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

8 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

22 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

28 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

29 October 1967 – Embassy, Colchester, Essex

4 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

10 November 1967 – Kennet School, Thatcham, Berkshire with The Roosters

11 November 1967 – Casino, Leicester

12 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

19 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

26 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

28 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

2 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

3 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

17 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

24 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

31 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

20 January 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

21 January 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Huckle Bucks (billed as The Meantimers)

27 January 1968 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire

13 February 1968 – Public Hall, Witham, Essex

17 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

24 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

14 April 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Foursome

20 April 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

27 April 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

11 May 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

25 May 1968 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with Mr Lucifer (billed as The Meantimers)

1 June 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire

8 June 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

14 June 1968 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent

21 June 1968 – Victoria Ball, Dartford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

22 June 1968 – Gig in Brighton, West Sussex (billed as The Meantimers)

23 June 1968 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

24 June 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

6 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

13 July 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Trax

2 August 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as Meantimers)

3 August 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex (billed as Meantimers)

4 August 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Oval, south London (billed as Meantimers)

6-7 August 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (billed as Meantimers)

24 August 1968 – Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

31 August 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Rocky Rivers

14 September 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

21 September 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

28 September 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Faux Pas

29 September 1968 – Silver End Hotel, near Witham, Essex

By the autumn of 1968, Kenny Simon had reshuffled the pack, bringing in Marsh’s former band mate from The Quiet Five, Roger McKew on lead guitar. Sid Phillips had already left by this point to go on to Redwind and his place was taken by Tony Hall, whose CV including Peter’s Faces, Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Rupert’s Spoon.

The new formation then comprised:

Kenny Simon – lead vocals

Roger McKew – lead guitar

Tony Hall – saxophone

Brent Carter – saxophone

Mick Glyde – bass

Roger ‘Tex’ Marsh – drums

The new-look formation resumed gigging. In March 1969, Brian Johnston from The Fantastics’ backing band, The House of Orange joined on Hammond organ. Two months later, however, Mick Glyde left and was replaced by another bass player.

Later that year, original keyboard player Bill Pitt returned to take over from Johnston. Simon also added Irish trumpet player Ron Carthy, who’d previously worked with The Blue Aces and Wynder K Frog (among others) to the six-piece line up that came together in time to cut the group’s lone ‘45 in November 1969.

In March 1970, however, Brent Carter and Tony Hall also departed at this point and joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

When the band finally splintered in the early 1970s, Pitt ended up working with Espirit de Corps, while Carthy joined Gonzales and also did a multitude of sessions for artists like Freddie King, Slade and Suzi Quatro.

Selected gigs:

5 October 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Cuby & The Blizzards

18 October 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with Amen Corner and Plagel Cadence

19 October 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford with Granny’s Intentions

19 October 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Showstoppers

26 October 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

16 November 1968 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

17 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London

23 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London

30 November 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

8 December 1968 – Embassy Suite, Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with The Outcasts

10 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with Olaf Groups Kneed

14 December 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bedford with Luther Morgan & JD with The Red Russo

21 December 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

22 December 1968 – Le Metro, Birmingham

28 December 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

29 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, west London

5 January 1969 – Embassy Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with Peach Umbrella

11 January 1969 – Savoy Club, Catford, southeast London

18 January 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

1 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

16 February 1969 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

22 February 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jon James & The Swamp and The Western Kind

14 March 1969 – Maxi Scene, Angel Hotel, Godalming, Surrey

22 March 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

4 April 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

12 April 1969 – John D’Milton’s Discotheque, Birmingham

19 April 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet

20 April 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

26 April 1969 – Savoy Room, Catford, southeast London with Lee Hawkins

2 May 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Consortium and Octopus

17 May 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire

22 May 1969 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

6 June 1969 – Chelmsford City Stadium, Chelmsford, Essex

7 June 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

14 June 1969 – Il Rondo, Leicester

28 June 1969 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London

6 July 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

11 July 1969 – The Crown, Marlow, Bucks

26 July 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

28 July 1969 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newsbury, Berkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

30 July 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

2 August 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet

4 August 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Original Principals, The Headline News and Wall City Jazzmen

5-6 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

9 August 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

17-19 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

23 August 1969 – Trocadero Ballroom, Hamilton, Scotland (Wishaw Press says that the band are straight from a continental tour)

25 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

31 August 1969 – Up The Junction, Crewe, Cheshire with Scotch Corner

6 September 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

19 September 1969 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with J J Jackson & The Greatest Little Soul Band in The Land and The Ray King Soul Band

4 October 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

8 October 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

11 October 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

20 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Freedom Train, Pendulum and The Wall City Jazzmen

25 October 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Lovin’ Spoonful

8 November 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire

21 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

23 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

25 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

29 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 December 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands

13 December 1969 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Acoustics

31 December 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 February 1970 – Cloud 9, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Many thanks to Kenny Simon, Michael Armes, Tony Hall, Alan Wherry, Ken Hendy, Sid Phillips, Mick Glyde and Bruce Welsh for their help. Thank you Michael Armes and Alan Wherry for the photos.

Very little is known about the personnel in Simon K & The Meantimers. The author would be interested to hear from anyone that can provide more detail on the group for a future, updated version. Please email the author, Nick Warburton at Warchive@aol.com

Copyright © Nick Warburton.  All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.