Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London gigs 1966-1968

August 1966 listing. Photo: Melody Maker

Located on Allendale Road in Greenford (sometimes billed as Sudbury or Wembley) in northwest London, the Starlite Ballroom was a significant music venue in the UK during the early-to-late 1960s. Peter Griffin booked artists for the venue, together with the Starlight Ballroom in Crawley, West Sussex.

Melody Maker advertised this venue weekly during 1966 and 1967. This doesn’t mean, however, that the advertised artists definitely appeared. It’s quite possible that some acts may have been replaced at the last minute. All of the listings below are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the listings below, gigs took place on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

1966

Missing some listings from January to late May

1 January – The Fenmen and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

16 January – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)

21 January – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

22 January –  The Drifters (Record Mirror)

23 January – The Alan Bown Set and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s diary)

 

5 February – Stevie Wonder (backed by The Sidewinders?) with The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

13 February – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

18 February – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

27 February – The Moody Blues and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary) Beat Instrumental lists The Who for this date as well

 

11 March – The Small Faces (Record Mirror)

23 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Beat Instrumental)

25 March – Wilson Pickett and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

 

1 April – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Record Mirror)

22 April – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

26 April – The Mindbenders (Beat Instrumental)

29 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)

 

6 May – Lee Dorsey and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s diary)

15 May – The Small Faces (Record Mirror)

Photo: Melody Maker

27 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

28 May – The Soul Agents

29 May – The Fenmen and The Symbols

 

Missing listings for 3, 4 and 5 June

5 June – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and Jean & The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

10 June – The Quiet Five and The Mark Four

11 June – The Ram Jam (most likely Geno Washington’s band) and The James Royal Set

12 June – The Yardbirds

Dave Brogden’s diary confirms that The Statesides supported The Yardbirds on this date

17 June – Roy C

Dave Brogden’s diary confirms that The Statesides supported Roy C on this date

18 June – The Spencer Davis Group

19 June – The James Royal Set and The Soul Agents

24 June – Radio London Night with bands

25 June – The Emeralds and The James Royal Set

26 June – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

 

1 July – The Quiet Five and The Trendsetters Ltd

2 July – Radio London Night

3 July – Gary Farr & The T-Bones

Photo: Melody Maker

8 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

9 July – The Crystals

10 July – The Moody Blues

Photo: Melody Maker

15 July – The Who and Roscoe Brown Combo

16 July – Episode Six and The Legend

17 July – The Troggs, The Wild Things and The Jimmy Brown Sound

22 July – Rufus Thomas

23 July – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones

24 July – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The En-Devers Ltd

29 July – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and The Summer Set

30 July – The Riot Squad

31 July – Joyce Bond and The Jimmy Brown Sound

 

5 August – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

6 August – Episode Six

7 August – Solomon Burke

12 August – The Move

Missing listing for 13 August

14 August – Jimmy Brown Sound

19 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Tea Set

20 August – The Midnights

21 August – The Action and The Mode

26 August – The Magic Lanterns and The Knack

Missing listing for 27 August

28 August – The Pretty Things and Sands

 

2 September – The Spencer Davis Group

3 September – Episode Six

4 September – The Birds (with support)

Photo: Melody Maker

9 September – The Jimmy Brown Sound and The Satellites (soon to become The Army)

10 September – Julian Covey & The Machine

11 September – Long John Baldry & Steampacket

16 September – The Symbols and The Quiet Five

17 September – Two groups

18 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

23 September – The Trendsetters and Winston G

24 September – Two groups

25 September – Los Bravos

30 September – Robert Parker and The James Royal Set

 

1 October – Two groups

2 October – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

7 October – The Cryin Shames

8 October – Two groups

9 October – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

14 October – Lee Dorsey

15 October – Two groups

16 October – Batman & Robin

Photo: Melody Maker

21 October – Sonny Childe & The TNT

22 October – Two groups

23 October – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Guests)

Photo: Melody Maker

28 October – The Birds

29 October – Two groups

30 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

 

4 November – The Dixie Cups

5 November – Two groups

6 November – The Creation

11 November – The Coasters (probably backed by The Noblemen) and The Mode

12 November – Two groups

13 November – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

18 November – Wishful Thinking

19 November – Two groups

20 November – Ben E King and Winston G

25 November – The Mindbenders

26 November – Two groups

27 November – The Birds

Photo: Melody Maker

2 December – The All Night Workers and Sands

3 December – Two groups

4 December – Cream and The Essex Five

9 December – Gass and The Fleur De Lys

10 December – Two groups

11 December – The Drifters and The Bystanders

16 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

17 December – Two groups

18 December – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

23 December – Eric Burdon & The Animals and The Night Train

24 December – Gass and The Penny Blacks

30 December – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede and The Barry Lee Show

31 December – The Birds and The James Royal Set

1967

1 January – Rick ‘N’ Beckers and The Majority

6 January- (Sonny Childe &) The TNT and The Syn

No listing for 7 January

8 January – The Move and The Roscoe Brown Combo

Photo: Melody Maker

13 January – The Small Faces

No listing for 14 January

15 January – The Soul Sisters and Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede

20 January – The Coloured Raisins and The Herd

No listing for 21 January

22 January – Long John Baldry (& Bluesology)

27 January – Inez & Charlie Foxx and (Joe E Young &) The Tonicks

No listing for 28 January

29 January – The Symbols and The Dyaks

 

3 February – Winston G

No listing for 4 February

5 February – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

Photo: Melody Maker

10 February – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Cool Combination)

No listing for 11 February

12 February – The Who

17 February – The Fenmen

No listing for 18 February

19 February – Cream

Photo: Melody Maker

24 February – Lemon Line

No listing for 25 February

26 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

 

3 March – Cliff Bennet & The Rebel Rousers

No listing for 4 March

5 March – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band and The Shell (Shock Show)

10 March – The Coloured Raisins and King Ossie Show

No listing for 11 March

12 March – The Gods

17 March – The Easybeats

No listing for 18 March

19 March – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

Photo: Melody Maker

24 March – Human Instinct and Joe E Young & The Tonicks

No listing for 25 March

26 March – The New Mojos and The Gods

31 March – Ronnie Jones (& The Q-Set?)

 

No listing for 1 April

2 April – Ben E King

7 April – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

No listing for 8 April

9 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

14 April – The Creation and The Syn

No listing for 15 April

16 April – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology)

21 April – Pink Floyd

No listing for 22 April

23 April – Mary Wells and The Gods

Photo: Melody Maker

28 April – PP Arnold (backed by The Nice?) and The Syn

No listing for 29 April

30 April – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Shinn

 

5 May – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

No listing for 6 May

7 May – Jeff Beck Group and Sean Buckley

12 May – The Shell Shock Show and The Syn

No listing for 13 May

14 May – Normie Rowe & The Playboys

19 May – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

No listing for 20 May

21 May – The Troggs and The State Express (they later backed Edwin Starr)

26 May – The Shell Shock Show and The Syn

No listing for 27 May

28 May – Alan Price Set

Photo: Melody Maker

2 June – Edwin Starr (probably backed by The Senate)

No listing for 3 June

4 June – The Warm Sounds and The Birds and The Bees

9 June – Mike Quinn Rave

No listing for 10 June

11 June – Cream and The Triads

16 June – The Shell Shock Show

No listing for 17 June

18 June – The Drifters

23 June – The Move and The Gods

No listing for 24 June

25 June – The Chiffons and Midnight Train

No listing for 30 June or 1 July

 

2 July – The Toys

Ron Lewingdon says Steve Priest’s pre-Sweet group, The Army were also on this bill. He remembers appearing at the venue with The Toys

No listing for 7 or 8 July

9 July – The Jeff Beck Group

14 July – The All Night Workers

No listing for 15 July

16 July – The Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology)

21 July – The All Night Workers

No listing for 22 July

23 July – The Action and The Syn

28 July – Modes Mode

No listing for 29 July

30 July – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and The Human Instinct

 

4 August – The All Night Workers

No listing for 5 August

6 August – The Bee Gees and The Pussyfoot

11 August – Modes Mode

No listing for 12 August

Photo: Melody Maker

13 August – The Small Faces

Henry Turtle says that his group The Doves played with The Small Faces at this venue several times. This seems the most likely date for one of the shows but needs confirmation

18 August – The Syn

No listing for 19 August

20 August – The Jeff Beck Group

25 August – The New Jump Band

No listing for 26 August

27 August – The Human Instinct and The Triads

 

1 September – The Pussyfoot

No listing for 2 September

3 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

8 September – The Shell Shock Show

No listing for 9 September

10 September – James & Bobby Purify and The James Royal Set

15 September – The Unsuited Medium

No listing for 16 September

17 September – The Original Drifters (backed by The Trend)

22 September – The Wranglers

23 September (first Saturday listing for the year) – The Breakthru

24 September – The Tiles Big Band

29 September – The New York Public Library

30 September – The Breakthru

 

1 October – The Alan Bown Set and The Calgary Stampede

No listing for 6 October

No listing for 7 October

8 October – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

13 October – Amen Corner

No listing for 14 October

15 October – Max Baer & The Chicago Setback

20 October – The Human Instinct

21 October – Warren Davis (was he on his own or with The Monday Band?)

22 October – The Ebony Keys and The All Night Workers (possibly the new version of this band)

27 October – Mr Hip Soul Band

28 October – The Wranglers

Photo: Melody Maker

29 October – Geno Washington & Ram Jam Band and The All Night Workers

 

3 November – Pesky Gee

4 November – The Taylor Upton Big Jump Band

5 November – Ben E King and Dr Marigold’s Prescription

10 November – Horatio Soul & The Square Deals

11 November – The Triads

12 November – Marmalade and Legay

17 November – Katch 22

18 November – Willie Walker & The Scene

19 November – The Skatalites and The Open Mind

24 November – The Minor Portion Roll Band

25 November – Keith Skues and The Shock Treatment

26 November – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Living Daylights

Photo: Melody Maker

1 December – J J Bendol & The SOS

2 December – Katch 22

3 December – Geranium Pond and Modes Mode

8 December – Hydro Bronx B Band

No listing for 9 December

10 December – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

No more listings for the year, so would welcome any additions

1968

Melody Maker didn’t appear to advertise the venue during 1968, so I’ve listed references next to the entries I have found. It looks like they were Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but the listings are not complete and I would welcome any additions

Missing lists from January-April 1968

19 April – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 April – Ike & Tina Turner Show (Harrow Weekly Post/New Musical Express)

26 April – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

27 April – The Lace (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 April – Garnet Mimms and The Lace (Harrow Weekly Post) Mimms may have cancelled

 

 

3 May – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

4 May – Pandemonium (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing on 5 May

No listing on 10 May

11 May – The Cruudas (Harrow Weekly Post)

12 May – The Honeybus (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing on 17 May

18 May – Rainbow Ffolly (Harrow Weekly Post)

19 May – Marmalade and Rainbow Ffolly (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing on 24 May

25 May – Jo Jo Gunne (Harrow Weekly Post)

26 May – Edwin Starr (backed by The State Express) (and with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

31 May – The New Flamingos (Harrow Weekly Post)

Photo: Harrow Weekly Post

1 June – The Greatest Show on Earth (Harrow Weekly Post)

2 June – Duane Eddy and The All Night Workers (Harrow Weekly Post)

Henry Turtle says his band The Doves played with Duane Eddy at this venue. The All Night Workers definitely played too

7 June – The Midnights (Harrow Weekly Post)

8 June – The All Night Workers (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 June – The Fantastics (backed by The House of Orange) (Harrow Weekly Post)

Photo: Harrow Weekly Post

14 June – The Exits (Harrow Weekly Post)

15 June – Orange Seaweed (Harrow Weekly Post)

16 June – Whisky Mac (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 June – The Apricots (Harrow Weekly Post)

22 June – Size Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 June – The New Breed (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 June – The Apricots (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 June – The Group (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

30 June – The Apricots (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

5 July – The Midnites (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 July – The New Breed (Harrow Weekly Post)

7 July – The Midnites (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing for 12 July

13 July – The Midnites (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 July – The Neuz (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing for 19 July

20 July – The Neuz (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 July – The Unison (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing for 26, 27 and 28 July

 

No listing for 2 August

3 August – The Unison (Harrow Weekly Post)

4 August – The Unison (Harrow Weekly Post)

I don’t have any more listings for August and only odd ones for September and October so would welcome any additions

 

22 September – The New Breed (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September – The All Night Workers (Harrow Weekly Post)

Photo: Harrow Weekly Post

5 October – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 October – The Race (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 October – Colin Berry (Wednesday) (Harrow Weekly Post)

12 October – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

2 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

3 November – The Midnites with Dynamic Maxine (Harrow Weekly Post)

8 November – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

10 November – The Midnites with Dynamic Maxine (Harrow Weekly Post)

15 November – The Midnites with Dynamic Maxine (Harrow Weekly Post)

16 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

There is no listing for 17 November

22 November – Colin Berry and The Midnites (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

There is no listing for 24 November

I have no more listings for November and a gap in early December

Photo: Harrow Weekly Post

11 December – The All Night Workers (Wednesday) (Harrow Weekly Post) Says Sudbury, but the address is the same – Allendale Road

I have no more listings for December so would welcome any additions

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.

24 thoughts on “Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London gigs 1966-1968”

  1. Wot a line up. Remember many many of those bands, played this and other gigs on this circuit. Peter lynsey and Peter Griffin if I remember also at Starlight Crawley (supported Jimi Hendrix) & Wembley

  2. On Sunday 23rd January 1966 the main group was The Alan Brown set not The Alan Price set. The reference to James Royal, they were called Jimmy Royal and The Hawks.

    1. Wonderful memories I lived only 10 minutes walk away from The Starlite, we just loved it. Got to know many of the Groups. especially the local ones. Loved Jimmy Royal we used to pop round to see him many Sundays in south Ealing what a voice he had.
      Who was to know Ron Wood would go on to achieve such fame

  3. Peter Lindsay not Peter linsay was the owner of the Starlight Ballroom Starting from 1964 Peter Griffin made all the bookings at The Starlight Ballroom.

  4. I remember well the toys from america july 2nd 1967.they were brilliant got the house rockin. earlier on in the evening were the foundations (i think) i’m pretty sure they backed the toys…… and firstly steve priest’s band the army, of which one of my friends who was with me was really keen to see. unfortunately after about 5 minutes the army.’s equipment broke down ( amp i think. ) and i remember the drummer filling in with a 10 minute drum solo,which was well received. while they fixed the equipment….but a really great evening.i never forgot………john

  5. Fond memories from 1966/7 (19/20) me and my mates went every Friday night after getting an advertising flyer given us when we left Ready Steady Go studio in Wembley. Met so many great girls there, one I lost contact with sadly. Great groups, got to talk to most in the bar behind the stage. They’ve pulled it down now haven’t they, but that’s progress I suppose. .. Richard (formerly from Kilburn)

  6. Great memories, my Mum was the PA to the guy who owned this venue the Starlite! She worked on booking the bands etc.We lived in the road where his offices were just next to the Starlite I spent many days as a teenager there with my Mum and met loads of famous singers and bands, have some autographs too! Happy memories of a fabulous era .

  7. i started going to the starlite in 1964, saw the drifters, as they were then, with the great bobby hendrix singing lead he’d been with them in the fifties, managed to have a chat with him, he was funny ha ha saw the coasters as well brian auger and the trinity with julie driscoll were regulars as was long john baldry happy days

  8. hi great to see so many groups listed i cant quite remember the exact years it must have been 1963 64 65 66 57 i saw stevie wonder or little stevie as he was known i went back stage and met him even then he was amazing i remember sitting et the back bar behind the stage with keith moon and long john baldry both out of their skulls on what ever i loved motown it was a bit later but the music fantastic i also went to the white heart in southall the oldfield hotel burtons of uxbridge ricky tic les wildes ealing broadway and southall comm.centre thats how i got onto ready steady go as an dancer got to know cathy mcgowan she was realy nice THESE WERE THE DAYS

  9. I remember the Starlite so well! upstairs to pay and there were pictures of “banned” kids who would not be allowed in. I remember seeing Rufus Thomas, Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, Geno Washington ‘s Ram Jam Band, and so many more. Happy memories.

  10. I was born in Sudbury and lived in Wembley until the 70s. Used to visit the Starlight most Friday nights.
    I’m sure we see Jimmy Hendrix perform before he hit the big time can anyone confirm this.
    Cheers Richard Oughton.

    1. Yes, definitely saw Jimmy Hendrix there too. Can’t remember how much it was to get in, but o cheap considering how many amazing groups we saw!

  11. What a fantastic list. I went to the Starlight regularly in the 60’s and met my ‘first’ fiancé Jean Pizzey there. Sadly the relationship didn’t last despite great nights together. To me the best was Wilson Pickett and I still really enjoy his music. I did have the advantage of owning a new car at 18 which was excellent ‘bait’. Such great memories, thanks.

  12. Visited the Starlite often and remember seeing The Small Faces, The Who and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (seem to recall a fight breaking out for the latter and we all ended up outside). I also seem to recall seeing the Herd there as well, am I mistaken?

  13. What a time to be young in and arround North London. Great venues – The Starlight, The Flamingo and The Marquee in Soho and The California in Dunstable. Great live soul and blues from the original performers and all at affordable prices. I recall seeing Ben E King, Lee Dorsey and I think joe Tex at the Starlight and Howlin Wolf In West Hampstead and all the great Chicago bluesmen at the Marquee and other small venues. The only person i bother to see now is Zucchero-if you havn’t seen him I recommend he’s at the Royal Albert Hall next year

    1. On my first visit to the Starlite in October 1967 I met the love of my life but he broke my heart. That said I have so many happy memories of the Starlite – the music, atmosphere, dancing in bare feet (thats a clue for the heartbreaker). Yes, those were the days!

      PS. Anyone remember Dave S and Monty …

  14. I saw The Walker Brothers at Starlight but only John turned up. We were almost crushed against the stage & our clothes were soaking wet but we didn’t care. It was awesome times. I didn’t see them listed.

    1. Iworked with peter griffin nicknamed Taffy he was a bit of a lad . Behind the scenes getting the club ready for the weekends it was nicknamed the ready steady go show what great groups the stage was small the changing room to the right it was so small like a box room how they all got in amazed me it had three bars one behind the stage one in the ballroom and one upstairs . The groups liked to hang out in the stage bar as it was so dark and they could drink drugs and groupies all on the quiet 😂 i have had many a great time in my days but this was the best my mum used to work in the sudbury cafe and some of the stars used to use it PG and myself were always in there we were close friends and with my family .. Great Times could tell you a few stories 😂

  15. Such great times. Little Stevie Wonder was fantastic. John Mayall was playing with a big punch-up in the audience. Ram Jam band had everybody dancing. I remember their big bouncer throwing trouble makers down the entrance stairs when there was trouble. Those really were great days.

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