Pete Hicks (lead vocals)
Tim Harris (harmonica/vocals)
Alan Salter (guitar)
Graham Arondelle (bass)
Chris Tattrsall (drums)
From the Bexley area in southeast London, The South East Blues Band were formed in 1966 after Pete Hicks had left The Down & Outs.
Formed in 1965, The Down & Outs also comprised guitarist/singer Alan Johnson; keyboard player Alan Fuller; guitarist Clive Brown; bass player Mick Robinson; and drummer Geoff Bassett.
Like Hicks’ previous band, The South East Blues Band also played regularly in the Bexley area, filling in for The Peddlers at the Black Prince in Bexley in early 1967 (their appearance was covered by the Kentish Times).
Taking on a more psych bent, the group then moved up to central London and played the burgeoning underground scene, appearing regularly at the Happening 44 in Gerrard Street in Soho.
When the band split in 1968, Hicks worked with the band Promise. The promotional photo also showed bass player Barry Nicholls who was a very brief member (and would join Hicks in Big Wheel).
Melody Maker lists Promise playing at the New Concorde Club in Oxford Street on 7 February 1969.
In June 1969, Hicks started to play with Fat Daughter alongside future Clark-Hutchinson drummer Del Coverley. Fat Daughter opened for Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd among others.
At some point (most likely earlier in 1968) Pete says he also joined Coverley in a revamped version of Bexley group The Big Wheel alongside guitarist Del Grace; bass player Barry Nicholls; and keyboard player Mike Manners, who was subsequently replaced by Alan Fuller from The Down & Outs.
Hicks’ continued to perform in the Seventies and is still active. You can read more about him at his website. This page has some more information on Promise and his earlier bands.
Thanks to Pete Hicks for the information and images. We’d love to hear from anyone who could add more information in the comments section below.
According to Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew, Fat Daughter opened for Fleetwood Mac on 14 June 69 at Regent Street Poly
Fat Daughter at West Norwood Library 8 Oct 69: https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Melody-Maker-IDX/IDX/60s/Melody-Maker-1969-1004-IDX-26.pdf#search=%22fat%20daughter%22
Fat Daughter at Eel Pie Island 12 Nov 69:
https://www.eelpiemuseum.co.uk/roll-call/1969-roll-call/
Do you still play?
I am a little bit obsessed with Tim Harris. He was a brilliant harmonica player. I have the newspaper cutting. I married him in 1977.
I love seeing the “Blues Band score as substitutes”. He had a couple of stories about his time with the South East Blues Band. I think a story about Exotic Zoe and her snake?
Tim died in January 2014. I didn’t meet anyone from the band, I don’t think? Possibly Graham Arondelle? I know the names, of course.
Love all the stories.
Hi Glynis, but I’ve just been shown an article about a Blues Band from Bexleyheath with Tim Harris playing harmonica. My name is Baz Bailey and I played guitar in Backhouse James Blues Band from the Medway Towns. We met Tim when he turned up at one of our gigs and did a couple of numbers with us and finished up joining us on a regular basis. We made an L.P. and Tim was featured on several tracks. I’ve got loads of stuff to tell you about those great times. If you want to get in touch please do. Regards, Baz.
Really? That’s news, please be in touch.
Hi Glynis, just found your reply, I hadn’t expected any thing after my initial contact. I don’t do any social media normally so any ideas about how I should get in touch. I’ve got photos and an LP I could send you. Hoping to hear from you. Regards Barry.
Hi Glynis
I have many fond memories of Tim and the other members of the South East Blues Band.
Sadly, Graham Arondelle, whom you mentioned in your post, is also no longer with us.
Alan Salter told me he played some blues at the grave during his funeral and that it was the hardest gig he’d ever done.
Very best wishes to you
Pete Hicks