The Uptown Band linked up with Ralph Denyer after he’d ditched The Rockhouse Band in mid-July 1966.
Stacey recalls that the band was booked by Georgie Fame and Zoot Money’s managers Rik and John Gunnell, who ran the Flamingo Club in Soho’s Wardour Street as well as the Bag O’Nails in nearby Kingley Street and Brixton’s Ram Jam. The Uptown Band played all three venues regularly during the latter half of 1966.
He also remembers that the band played at the Roaring Twenties in Carnaby Street which was run by Jamaican Count Suckle, owner of the Cue Club in Paddington.
Another notable gig took place at the Cromwellian in November 1966 when Mike Love from The Beach Boys sat in on Hammond organ, together with Georgie Fame’s percussionist “Speedy” Acquaye.
Around Christmas the band folded and Jim Toomey formed Jon with former Rockhouse Band and Gass member Stuart Cowell (guitar/vocals) plus Tom Tierney (bass) from Lulu’s backing band; Ron Reynolds (keys); and singer Chris Simmons (who left during 1967).
Jon became Still Life in February 1968 when Con Byrne took over bass and Tom Tierney moved to rhythm guitar. In March, however, Still Life joined forces with Warren Davis (and his two sax players) and worked as a new version The Warren Davis Monday Band from March-September 1968.
In February 1969, Cowell and Toomey joined forces with Bernie Holland (guitar) and Jerome Arnold (bass) to form The Jerome Arnold Band who played together until late May 1969.
Next, Toomey reunited with former Uptown Band sax player Tony Priestland in Titus Groan. Toomey later found fame with The Tourists, featuring Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.
Ralph Denyer initially worked as a solo singer/songwriter before joining Welsh rock band, Blonde on Blonde. Later he joined Aquila and co-wrote The Guitar Handbook with American guitarist singer/songwriter Isaac Guillory. He died in 2011.
Art Regis meanwhile joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound in January/February 1967. He didn’t stay long, however, and in June that year briefly worked with Billie Davis & The Quality followed by a month with singer Engelbert Humperdinck.
In late July, Regis joined Jimmy James & The Vagabonds where he reunited with Nat Fredericks from his early 1960s band, Rupert & The Red Devils. He stayed until September 1968 and then worked with Art Regis & The Brass Cannon.
Tony Priestland briefly joined Jimmy James in July 1968 but it’s not clear how long he stayed before he reunited with Toomey in Titus Groan.
Roy Stacey, who’d filled in for John Treais in The Five Proud Walkers during late 1966, including a show at the Ram Jam in Brixton, also covered for his successor John Ford in January-February 1967 when he was ill. Later that year, Stacey worked with that band’s drummer Richard ‘Hud’ Hudson and backed American guitarist Champion Jack Dupree for several gigs at Eel Pie Island (most likely in August).
After auditioning for the bass player’s spot in The Crazy World of Arthur Brown at the Middle Earth in Covent Garden in September 1967 (he lost out to Nick Greenwood), Stacey briefly reunited with Art Regis in Jimmy James & The Vagabonds in March 1968, playing a handful of dates.
Stacey next worked with an unnamed gypsy rock eight-piece group who recorded two songs at Radio Luxembourg that year.
“It was quirky and ahead of the time,” he says. “We had a girl singer; two cellists, who doubled on bassoon and other wind instruments; singer/songwriter and guitarist Andy Rae; second guitarist Terry O’Leary; Alistair Fielder on various range flutes; me on electric bass; and drummer Iain Clark.
“Albert Hammond produced the acetate. We took the band to Tony Viscounti, who said the line-up wouldn’t work.”
In August 1968 Iain Clark auditioned for Danny Kirwan’s band but when the young guitarist joined Fleetwood Mac, the drummer joined Cressida (and later Uriah Heep) in October. The gypsy rock group carried on but folded around 1971.
However, during late 1968 (or possibly 1969), Stacey reunited with Art Regis again in an early jazz rock group that recorded material with the intention of playing some gigs in Sweden. Featuring jazz singer Bobby Breen and tenor sax legend Dick Morrissey (whose wife was Swedish), the project proved short-lived.
In the early 1970s, Stacey reunited with Paul Brett and worked with him alongside Johnny Joyce from Paul Brett’s Sage, recording some BBC Radio sessions.
Regis who lives in Germany and Stacey continue to pursue music projects. Toomey lives in Australia and also continues to play as well as act.
Notable gigs:
15 July 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Solomon Burke (backed by Bluesology) (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band
16 July 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Ralph Denyer’s Uptown Band
23 July 1966 – New Spot, Gosport, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)
5 August 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club (Nottingham Evening Post)
6 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says from Rufus Thomas tour
When Arthur Brown left The Union around December 1965, the group brought in blues singer Dave Terry (aka Elmer Gantry), who’d previously worked with Stacey, Regis and Swinson in Barnes R&B band, The Impacts.
After The Impacts split up, Dave Terry worked on the folk/blues circuit with Simon Lawrence. The pair had a regular gig at Studio 51 in Leicester Square and, according to Melody Maker, played a gig there as late as 2 December 1965.
Gantry recalls that The Union worked as The High Society for a while. According to Melody Maker, The High Society played at the Pontiac in Putney on 18 December 1965 and this would have been the same band. The High Society also performed at the Galaxy (in Basingstoke Town Hall) on 19 February 1966.
As The Union, the band recorded two tracks at Tony Pike’s studio in Putney – covers of “In the Midnight Hour” and “Shake” in spring 1966 which have recently surfaced on Paul Brett’s anthology CD Stone Survivor.
Soon after Dave Terry left, followed in quick succession by Heather Swinson and Derek Griffiths.
Terry joined The Five Proud Walkers in June 1966 and remained with this band as they morphed into Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera. During this period, he changed his name to Elmer Gantry.
In late 1968/early 1969, after splitting with The Velvet Opera, Gantry recruited members of The Downliners Sect – Johnny Sutton, Paul Martinez, Bob Taylor and Nat Dumaine to become The Elmer Gantry Band. Later, in the 1970s he fronted Stretch and later still, recorded with The Alan Parsons Project, Jon Lord, Cozy Powell among others.
Also in June 1966, Paul Brett left to re-join Arthur Brown and the second incarnation of his Paris-based Arthur Brown Set. The group moved on to work in Spain but by October Brett had returned to England where he subsequently joined The Overlanders alongside Laurie Mason (lead vocals); Paul Petts (bass); Ian Griffiths (rhythm guitar); and Brian Middleditch (drums). Middleditch was replaced by Phil Wainman (ex-Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement) around March 1967 for a few months then Vic Lythgoe before splitting in August/September.
Brett then played with The Warren Davis Monday Band from September-December 1967; Tintern Abbey from January-June 1968; (Elmer Gantry’s) Velvet Opera from June 1968-spring 1970 and later Fire and Paul Brett’s Sage.
With Brett gone, Stacey remembers that the band recruited an Australian guitarist called Graham Wilson.
Stacey recalls that the remaining members of The Union – guitarist Graham Wilson; keyboard player Art Regis; sax player Tony Priestland; and drummer Jim Toomey changed name to The Uptown Band and worked at the Cromwellian before linking up with Brett’s former band mate from The SW4, Ralph Denyer when the future Blonde on Blonde guitarist/singer split with his previous outfit, The Rockhouse Band in July.
Thanks to Elmer Gantry (aka Dave Terry), Roy Stacey and Paul Brett for helping with the story
While still studying at Reading University and recording with The Diamonds, Arthur Brown joined The Swinging Machines around April 1965 (Ed. Arthur Brown says he had previously sung with The South West Five).
Stacey remembers that the group opened for The Spencer Davis Group at the Ricky-Tick in Hampshire (possibly Basingstoke) and went down a storm. (Ed. This gig is likely to be at the Galaxy Club at Basingstoke Town Hall on 27 August 1965.)
“There were lots of foreign students. Spencer opened the first and closing sets with The Arthur Brown Union in the middle,” he recalls.
“Once Spencer started up the students left the dance floor moving into the bar. When The Union opened the middle set old ‘Brownie’ introduced us in French then went into medley of up-tempo soul and funk. The dance floor was heaving. They loved us. When Spencer returned for the closing set the students vacated the dance floor.”
The bass player also remembers that Don Arden booked the band for a gig near Manchester but failed to tell them that he’d booked the gig under the name The Echoes, Dusty Springfield’s backing band.
“When we arrived, the promoter looked somewhat puzzled,” remembers Stacey. “To our surprise, Arden had booked us out as Dusty Springfield & The Echoes. We said, ‘Dusty’s ill’, couldn’t come’. Less than pleased he was. We did the gig and didn’t get paid.”
Sometime around late November (possibly mid-December), Arthur Brown departed and Dave Terry (aka Elmer Gantry) from The Impacts took over as front man. The group then briefly worked as The High Society before reverting to the name, The Union.
Notable gigs as Arthur Brown & The Machines:
8 May 1965 – Galaxy Club, Victoria Hotel, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire and Berkshire Gazette) Spelt Machenes (says seven piece)
15 May 1965 – Co-op Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with The New Tones and The Taverners (Birmingham Evening Mail)
29 May 1965 – New Brompton Football League, Kent Alloys Canteen, Strood, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News) Billed as Arthur Brown and his band so may be a different group
5 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire and Berkshire Gazette) (Says eight piece)
6 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald) Opening night
Notable gigs at The Arthur Brown Union:
27 August 1965 – Plug Hole, Tottenham Court Road, central London (Melody Maker)
3 September 1965 – Plug Hole, Tottenham Court Road, central London (Melody Maker)
13 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)
6 October 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
9 October 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire and Berkshire Gazette)
13 October 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)
20 October 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)
31 October 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex (Sussex Evening Express)
11 December 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire and Berkshire Gazette) This may have been with Dave Terry although it is billed as with Arthur Brown
Thanks to Paul Brett, Arthur Brown, Roy Stacey, Art Regis and Elmer Gantry (aka Dave Terry) for helping with the story
Guitarist Paul Brett put this band together around February 1965 after playing in The Southwest Four (aka SW4) with future Blonde on Blonde guitarist/singer Ralph Denyer, who’d gone on to play with Rag Men & Women.
Having started out playing with some local groups around the Fulham area, Brett’s first big break had come in early 1963 when he took over from Jimmy Page in Neil Christian & The Crusaders joining Neil Christian (lead vocals); Matt Smith (piano); Jumbo Spicer (bass); and Tornado Evans (drums). He left in June 1963.
The SW4 may have evolved into The South West Five who played at the Ealing Club on 29 November, 6 December and 24 December, but this needs confirmation. The South West Five also played at the Bromel Club in Bromley on 4 January 1965.
Art Regis came on-board after playing with The Impacts but it’s not clear what the other members had done before. Toomey, however, was from the Catford area in southeast London.
Early on it became clear that the group needed a strong lead singer and after bringing in back-up singer Heather Swinson and bass player Roy Stacey (both ex-The Impacts), Brett recruited singer Arthur Brown who was studying at Reading University and had recorded a flexi disc with The Diamonds comprising the Brown sung “You Don’t Know”.
Stacey recalls one gig at Reading University supporting The Nashville Teens where they upstaged the headliners. It’s quite possible that this gig was organised by Brown if he was studying at the university at the time (he’d leave summer 1965).
With Brown joining the group, they became Arthur Brown & The Machines.
Thanks to Paul Brett, Roy Stacey, Art Regis and David Else for helping with the story
This Barnes, southwest London band had started life as The Southbeats in early 1963.
As Roy Stacey notes, the group was part of the Bob Druce circuit with The High Numbers (later The Who) and performed regularly at The Goldhawk Social Club in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, Watford Trade Union Hall in Watford, Herts, the Railway Hotel in Wealdstone, Middlesex and the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill, southeast London.
Changing name to The Impacts in November 1963, they appeared in The Contact, a small budget film for the Spastics Society, in January 1964. An early outing for John Hurt, Pauline Collins and Wendy Richard, the film included a cameo performance by the group playing live in one scene, which can be seen on You Tube.
Later that year, actor Hugh Halliday, who had starred in The Contact and also played drums, took over from Chris Allen (who may be the same musician who went on to play with The Attack and The Syn among others).
The Impacts appeared at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, most notably on 21 April 1964 when they opened for The Art Wood Combo and The Pretty Things.
The group also played at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, Middlesex (most likely in 1963/1964), supporting The Graham Bond Organisation on a Sunday. Stacey notes that John Platt’s book London Rock Routes features a photo of an unknown band who are in fact The Impacts.
“The shot shows Dave [Terry’s] old Vortexion pa amplifier,” he says. “Tony [Noble] was playing his early ‘50s blonde Fender Esquire.”
“The photo in the book is tiny and shows two of the band at a great distance,” adds Dave Terry (aka Elmer Gantry).
“Tony Noble on the left and Roy Stacey on the right. It’s a bit strange that guitarist John Reeves, the drummer and I are missing from the photograph. I don’t know why; you can’t even see the drum kit. Maybe Tony and Roy had just got on stage and were tuning up.”
The band also appeared at the Blue Moon, Hayes, Middlesex supporting Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds on 19 April 1964 and Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers on 26 April 1964.
The Impacts also played at the Jazz Cellar in Kingston upon Thames in Surrey, including on 29 July 1964 and 13 November 1964.
Stacey remembers that The Impacts were featured in the popular teen beat magazine Boyfriend on 10 October 1964 on its “Undiscovered British Groups” page.
That same month, the band participated in a two-day Belfast tour with Jerry Lee Lewis. Don Arden had booked The Impacts to back the rock ‘n’ roll legend and Stacey remembers they didn’t get paid.
“On the first night, Jerry Lee took a chunk out of my Precision Bass,” he recalls. “As he kicked his stool in my direction, whack! Then hammered the piano keys with his left foot.”
On 24 October 1964, the group joined fellow west London band The Second Thoughts for a show at Studio 51 in Leicester Square, central London.
Stacey says that back-up singer Heather Swinson became part of the group towards the end of 1964. Also, keyboard player Art Regis joined the line-up. He also remembers that Richard O’Sullivan jammed with The Impacts on organ at one point.
Art Regis had first joined Rupert & The Red Devils in 1963 replacing original keyboard player Mike Finney. Featuring future Spencer Davis Group guitarist Ray Fenwick and sax player Rupert Clahar (later in The Rick ‘N’ Beckers), Rupert & The Red Devils travelled to Nuremburg in West Germany to play some gigs that same year but broke up.
Regis then joined Dutch band The Defenders (later The T-Set) before returning to London and hooking up with The Impacts.
On 1 December, The Impacts joined The Grenades, The Fairlanes and Wainwright’s Gentleman for a show at Hammersmith Town Hall.
On 12 December 1964, The Impacts played at Studio 51 again, this time with The Loose Ends, returning for a second appearance on 16 January 1965 (also with The Loose Ends).
However, later that month (or in early February), The Impacts split up with Dave Terry/Elmer Gantry pursuing his blues/folk interests, working with guitarist Simon Lawrence. The duo landed a regular gig at Studio 51 in Leicester Square.
Tony Noble meanwhile joined The Derek Savage Foundation while John Reeves formed John Brown’s Bodies, a Hammersmith group not to be confused with Keith Emerson’s Brighton band of the same name.
According to Stacey, John Reeves and Tony Noble would reunite in 1968 in Othello Smith & The Tobago Bad Boys and recorded the LP The Big Ones Go Ska for CBS Direction. Derek Savage was also a member.
Stacey meanwhile joined The Mike Leander Band for a tour. “It was pure chance that I got to meet Mike Leander at his apartment,” says the bass player. “He was a co-producer of the Drifters’ ‘Under the Boardwalk’ the first record I ever had. Mike Leander worked as a producer and arranger with Ben E. King and The Drifters at Atlantic Studios, New York.
“On that tour was black ex-G.I. Ronnie Jones of The Nightimers’ fame, who Herbie Goins replaced. Leander’s band did loads of Motown and featured two drummers and a big horn section. It also featured Paul Gadd (aka Gary Glitter), a Ready Steady Go dancer.”
During this period, Stacey also did some session work with Unit 4 Plus 2 thanks to Hugh Halliday, who’d joined the Hertfordshire group in 1965.
A short while later, the bass player joined Arthur Brown & The Machines on the recommendation of Art Regis who had joined this outfit when The Impacts split up (and just before Arthur Brown came on-board). Former Impacts back-up singer Heather Swinson also became a part of this group during 1965.
Thanks to Roy Stacey, Art Regis, Elmer Gantry (aka Dave Terry) and David Else for helping with the story
Born on 13 September 1940 in the United States, Jimmy James moved to Jamaica in the mid-1940s and joined The Vagabonds in 1964 after recording solo singles. The Vagabonds had been formed in 1961 by Count Prince Miller, Coleson Chen and Wallace Wilson with other musicians, who were gradually replaced with the line-up above.
The musicians relocated to London in May 1964 with Chen’s younger brother Phil guesting on second guitar and initially they played at parties and social functions. This formation recorded The Vagabonds LP.
Soon after, Winston Martin left and Rupert Balgobin took over drums and Phil Chen became a permanent member.
Attracting the attention of manager Pete Meaden, who’d discovered The Who, the group landed a month-long residency at the Scene in March 1965. In mid-1965 Coleson Chen returned to Jamaica and his brother Phil moved on to bass.
Selected gigs
20 November 1964 – Kilburn State Ballroom, Kilburn, London with Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers and Dixieland Steel Band (billed as The Jamaican Vagabonds)
18 March 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (billed as The Vagabonds)
30 April 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
9 May 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London with The Spencer Davis Group
18 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
22 May 1965 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire
10 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
12 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
13 July 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London with The Brian Auger Trinity
14 July 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (billed as The Vagabonds)
19 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Manfred Mann
25 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
26 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The VIPs
29 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
31 July 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Under Pete Meaden’s management, the band’s debut single on Columbia, “Shoo Be Doo (You’re Mine)” c/w “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” was released in August 1965 but was not a chart success. They then moved to Piccadilly for seven singles, starting with “I Feel Alright” c/w “I Wanna Be Your Everything” in February 1966.
Despite not cracking the singles’ chart, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds became regulars at the Marquee and built up a huge following on the nationwide club circuit where they were regarded as one of the most dynamic live acts.
Selected gigs
2 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
9 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
12 August 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
16 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz and The Boz People
21 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire (Billed as The Vagabonds with Jimmy James and Count Prince Miller)
23 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
27 August 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
30 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs
2 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
6 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Crowd
9 September 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
13 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
17 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
20 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Sidewinders
22 September 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset
23 September 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as Vagabonds)
27 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
1 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
4 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz & The Boz People
6 October 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with Dave Antony’s Moods
11 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Uglys
13 October 1965 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire
14 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
18 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
21 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Action and Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Dave Allen research)
24 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans
25 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs
29 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
1 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo
4 November 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as The Vagabonds)
6 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
8 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Banshees
9 November 1965 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol
15 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Train (Moon’s Train?)
17 November 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset
18 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
22 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
27 November 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire
29 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
4 December 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire with Mike Cotton Sound
6 December 1965 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire wit Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, Goldie (of the Gingerbreads), Shangaans, The Mark Leeman Five and Gary Farr & The T-Bones
10 December 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
12 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
13 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo
15 December 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (billed as The Vagabonds)
19 December 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Blaizes
20 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London
Around this time Carl Griffiths returned to Jamaica but later came back to the UK with singer Prince Buster. He also worked with Cat Soul Packet in September-November 1967 before joining The Bees who became The Pyramids. Griffiths later worked with Manfred Mann Chapter 3
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Count Prince Miller – lead vocals
Wallace Wilson – lead guitar
Phil Chen – bass
Carl Noel – keyboards
Rupert Balgobin – drums
Selected gigs
9 January 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
10 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five
Around this time former Rupert & The Red Devils’ tenor sax player Fred “Nat” Frederick joins. Frederick may be the same Fred who had recently played with John Lee’s Groundhogs.
3 April 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support
4 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
6 April 1966 – Target Paul’s Row, High Wycombe, Bucks
8 April 1966 – Links R&B Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts with The Fairies (opening night) Melody Maker has The Action as second group
9 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
11 April 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Sonny Childe & The TNT and The Real McCoy
14 April 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire
17 April 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Alan Bown Set
19 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Vibrations
20 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
25 April 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey
28 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
29 April 1966 – York University, York
30 April 1966 – Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
The group releases its third 45, “Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum” c/w “Come To Me Softly”
1 May 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with The News
2 May 1966 – Rag Queen Dance, East Ham Town Hall, East Ham, east London with The Symbols
4 May 1966 – Highbury Technical College, Cosham
5 May 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire
6 May 1966 – Keele University, Keele
7 May 1966 – Manor Lodge, Stockport, Greater Manchester
8 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with The Deakin Lewis Band (billed as The Vagabonds)
9 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk
11 May 1966 – College of Technology, Brighton, West Sussex
12 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Statesides (This is missing from Beat Instrumental unless this was moved to 16th)
13 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
14 May 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London
15 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington
16 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
19 May 1966 – Starlight, Crawley, West Sussex
20 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London
21 May 1966 – St Martin’s School of Art, central London
22 May 1966 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry
23 May 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire and Concord Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hants
24 May 1966 – Concorde Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
27 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (possibly with John Brown’s Bodies) Trend & Boyfriend magazine has Links Ballroom, Borehamwood on this date as well
28 May 1966 – Gig in Islington, north London
29 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington
30 May 1966 – Blues Festival, East Dereham, Norfolk with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Sullivan James Band and Sounds Reformed. Beat Instrumental says this was the Tavern Club
3-5 June 1966 – Gigs in Ostend, Belgium
6 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
10 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
11 June 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
12 June 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
13 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
14 June 1966 – St John’s College, Cambridge
15 June 1966 – Blue Flame Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands and Casino Club, Walsall, West Midlands
16 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
17 June 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Bobby Gibson and Group 004
18 June 1966 – Commonwealth Institute, central London
19 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London
20 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
21 June 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)
23 June 1966 – Birdcage, Porthsmouth, Hants
24 June 1966 – Gig in Exeter, Devon (probably university)
25 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
26 June 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
27 June 1966 – Wall City JC, Chester, Cheshire
28 June 1966 – American School, Hilton Hotel, central London
29 June 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire
30 June 1966 – Birmingham University, Birmingham
1 July 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough
2 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Roy C, The League of Gentlemen, The Amboy Dukes and The Ferryboys
4 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
5 July 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
6 July 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
7 July 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
8 July 1966 – Masonic Hall, Hornchurch, east London
9 July 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester
10 July 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
11 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
12 July 1966 – Bristol University, Bristol
14 July 1966 – Bircage, Eastney, Hampshire
16 July 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London
17 July 1966 –White Lion, Edgware, north London
18 July 1966 – Shoreline Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
19 July 1966 – Manor House, north London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)
22 July 1966 –Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough
23 July 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
24 July 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington
The band releases its fourth 45 on Piccadilly “This Heart of Mine” c/w “I Don’t Wanna Cry”
29 July 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary Cray, southeast London
2 August 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Move
4 August 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
5 August 1966 – Beat ‘n’ Blues Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Better Days, The Kynd and The Reaction
6 August 1966 – Cadillac Club, Brighton, West Sussex
7 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
11 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
13 August 1966 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court Casino Ballroom, Hampton Court, Middlesex
17 August 1966 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
18 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol with The Fanatics
21 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham
23 August 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
25 August 1966 – Astoria, Finsbury’s Park, north London with Sonny & Cher, Sharon Tandy & The VIPs
27 August 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London and Lyceum, central London
28 August 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
29 August 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
30 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Clayton Squares
31 August 1966 – Discoblue Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Baritone sax player Milton James, who has previously worked with Hogsnort Rupert, The Olympics and The Dynamics joins
2 September 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Him & Others
3 September 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
5 September 1966 – Wall City Jazz Club, Chester, Cheshire
8 September 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
9 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
10 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London
13 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog
14 September 1966 – Ackys Scene, New Maid’s Head Hotel, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
16 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London
17 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Leicester
18 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
20 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders, The Ferryboys
26 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, south London with Bluesology
27 September 1966 – Churchill Hall, Kenton, north London
1 October 1966 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London
2 October 1966 – Palais Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire
3 October 1966 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
4 October 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
6 October 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
9 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
11 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Episode Six
14 October 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts
15 October 1966 – International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
15 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
Melody Maker says the band went to Belgium to play gigs in Brussels and Ostend on 17 October. Is this possible for one day?
18 October 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks
19 October 1966 – Falcon Hotel, Eltham, southeast London
20 October 1966 – Concorde, Southampton with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
20 October 1966 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, east London
21 October 1966 – The Marquee Show, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Spencer Davis Group, The Move, Wynder K Frog, The Herd and The VIPs
22 October 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire
23 October 1966 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
25 October 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
26 October 1966 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, east London
28 October 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
29 October 1966 – Manchester University, Manchester
29 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester
30 October 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
The band releases its fifth 45 “Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud” c/w “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do”
9 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts
10 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London
12 November 1966 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London
13 November 1966 – Youth Centre, Liverpool
16 November 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hampshire
18 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Summer Set
19 November 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
24 November 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford
26 November 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
27 November 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham
28 November 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
29 November 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
Around this time, the band releases its LP The New Religion
1 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton
2 December 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester
3-4 December 1966 – Maryland Club, Glasgow, Scotland
6 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn
9 December 1966 – Durham University, Durham with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
10 December 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Orlons, The Gates of Eden and The Ebonites
11 December 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
12 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Hip 100
13 December 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
15 December 1966 – School of Art, Guildford, Surrey with The Alan Bown Set
16 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Unchained
17 December 1966 – Disco Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight
20 December 1966 – St Thomas, Brentwood, Essex
22 December 1966 – Southampton Guildhall, Hampshire with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
22 December 1966 – Ricky Tick, Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire
23 December 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Hounslow, west London with The Summer Set
24 December 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
26 December 1966 – Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
27 December 1966 – Corn Exchange, Bristol
31 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Neat Change and The Bunch
The band releases its sixth 45 “I Can’t Get Home to My Baby” c/w “Hungry For Love”
1 January 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
2 January 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire
The Hillingdon Mirror ran an article and photos in its 3 January 1967 issue, page 20
4 January 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soul Sisters with The Tonic and Charades
8 January 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians
Around this time Milton James departs. Baritone sax player Pat Gravende (aka Pat Sandy) replaces him. Also, longstanding member Carl Noel departs and Tom Parker, who has previously played with The Groundhogs, The Mark Leeman Five and Eric Burdon’s New Animals takes his place
The line-up now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Count Prince Miller – lead vocals
Wallace Wilson – lead guitar
Phil Chen – bass
Tom Parker – keyboards
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax
Pat Sandy – baritone sax
Rupert Balgobin – drums
Selected gigs
27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
28 January 1967 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
29 January 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
31 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Syn
3 February 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire
4 February 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
5 February 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts
6 February 1967 – Wall City Club, Chester, Cheshire
7 February 1967 – Manchester University, Manchester with Alan Bown and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
9 February 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
11 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool
17 February 1967 – Gyro Club, Troutbeck Hotel, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
19 February 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
20 February 1967 – Bluesville Club, Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
21 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire
24 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
25 February 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Eyes of Blonde and Ray Bones
25 February 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester
26 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
27 February 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
2 March 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Gordon Riots
5 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Hubbubs
7 March 1967 – Corn Exchange, Bristol
10 March 1967 – Phillipa Fawcett College, Streatham, London
11 March 1967 – Aquarium, Brighton, West Sussex
12 March 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians
14 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog
15 March 1967 – The Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester with The Drifters
16 March 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
17 March 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham
18 March 1967 – Manchester College, Manchester
19 March 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
20 March 1967 – Assembly Hall, Stafford, Staffordshire
21 March 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire
24 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London
25 March 1967 – Trade Union Hall, Watford, London
25 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire with The Alan Price Set
27 March 1967 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange with Family, Reformation and Rubber Band
28 March 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Bossmen
30 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fab 208 says 29 March)
31 March 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby, Humberside
1 April 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
2 April 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
4 April 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
13 April 1967 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
14 April 1967 – Brighton Arts Festival, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, West Sussex with Paul Jones, The Move, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Mike Stuart Span, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and others
19 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
20 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
21 April 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
22 April 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London
24 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
26 April 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge
28 April 1967 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
29 April 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with Sons and Lovers
The band releases its seventh 45 on Piccadilly “No Need to Cry” c/w “You Showed Me The Way”
It’s possible that Carl Noel may have returned at this point to briefly replace his successor Tom Parker
5 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The American Vibrations and The Hubbubs
6 May 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Fleur De Lys
7 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
8 May 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
9 May 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
24 May 1967 – Purple Fez Club, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon
25 May 1967 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
25 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog
27 May 1967 – Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Survivors
28 May 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners
29 May 1967 – Boulevard Gardens, Tadcaster, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes, Ellison’s Hog Line, The Screen, The Shotgun Express, Pete Lala Group and others
29 May 1967 – Crystal Bowl, Castleford, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes
1 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
3 June 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
4 June 1967 – The Place, Oldham, Greater Manchester
5 June 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
7 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts
8 June 1967 – Electric Garden, Covent Garden, London (Disc and Music Echo, 27 May issue, says the venue recently opened)
9 June 1967 – Matrix Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (with Mike Cotton Sound and The Big Jump Band?)
10 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
11 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London
14 June 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
15 June 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Life
17 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
17 June 1967 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
According to Melody Maker, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds played at The Shoreline in Bognor Regis and Jimmy James collapsed from exhaustion. The Derby gig was called but he was fit to do the Klooks Kleek gig
18 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (cancelled)
20 June 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
22 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
25 June 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Jude Brown Trust
26 June 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
28 June 1967 – Royal Pier, Mecca Ballroom, Southampton, Hampshire
29 June 1967 – Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Wales with The Fortunes
30 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Condors
1 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Steps and Ray Bones
2 July 1967 – Spinning Disc Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
3 July 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Disc & Music Echo has this on 5 July)
3 July 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Bath
4 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Malvern, Worcestershire
7 July 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
7 July 1967 – Victoria Hall, Dunbar, Scotland
8 July 1967 – Market, Carlisle, Cumbria
9 July 1967 – Top 10 Club, Dundee, Scotland
10 July 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland
12 July 1967 – Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen, Scotland
13 July 1967 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland
15 July 1967 – Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Stewart Henry & The Livewires
19 July 1967 – Disco Blue, Ryde, Isle of Wight
20 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
21 July 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
22 July 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire
22 July 1967 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent
24 July 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
26 July 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Brighton, West Sussex
On 27 July 1967, Arthur (Art) Regis took over from Carl Noel after playing with Billie Davis & The Quality (and more recently Engelbert Humperdinck). Regis had previously worked with Frederick in Rupert & The Red Devils. He’d also played with Arthur Brown during 1965-1966 and then Freddie Mack in early 1967.
12 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
15 August 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
18 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
22 August 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
24 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
26 August 1967 – St George’s Hall, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Catharacts
28 August 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire with Elmer Gantry
28 August 1967 – Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop (Wakefield Express) Missing from Art Regis’ gig list
29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Long John Baldry, Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and Wynder K Frog
1 September 1967 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester
1 September 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester
2 September 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Bread & Butter Band
3 September 1967 – Locarno, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
9 September 1967 – Gigs in Ghent and Lens, Belgium
10 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)
11 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)
15 September 1967 – St Michael’s Hall, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
16 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Friction and Eyes of Blonde
17 September 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts
19 September 1967 – Gig in Malvern, Worcestershire
20 September 1967 – Pavilion, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire
23 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Crew and The Gentle Madness
24 September 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
25 September 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk
26 September 1967 – BBC Overseas Service, Aeolian Hall, London
29 September 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
30 September 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington with the Purple Mist and The Penjants
1 October 1967 – Cosmopolitan, Carlisle, Cumbria
2 October 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
3 October 1967 – BBC Dave Symonds, Saturday Club
5 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Le Gay
6 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
7 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow and McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
8 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow, Scotland
9 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
11 October 1967 – 5th Dimension, Leicester
13 October 1967 – Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire
14 October 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire
14 October 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
15 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire
16 October 1967 – Gig in Norwich (cancelled)
17 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
19 October 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
20 October 1967 – Carnatic Hall, Liverpool
21 October 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
22 October 1967 – Kyrle Hall, Birmingham
24 October 1967 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire
25 October 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire
27 October 1967 – University of Surrey, Battersea Park Road, London
28 October 1967 – The Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop
28 October 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
29 October 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands
30 October 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, St Matthew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
3 November 1967 – Gig in York, North Yorkshire
4 November 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire
10 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Deadly Nightshades and The System
11 November 1967 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex
12 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, London with The Nice and David McWilliams
13 November 1967 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Amboy Dukes
14 November 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (with Eddie Gray’s resident house band)
17 November 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire with Bleu Kats
18 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester
18 November 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester
19 November 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
20 November 1967 – Bluesville ’67, St Mathew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk
22 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Southampton, Hampshire
23 November 1967 – Locarno, Streatham, London
24 November 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London
25 November 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Nature’s Own
26 November 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London with The Living Daylights
27 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Bath
1 December 1967 – Lancaster University, Lancaster
2 December 1967 – Nottingham University, Nottingham
3 December 1967 – New Regis Club, Butlin’s Holiday Camp, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
7 December 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
8 December 1967 – Students’ Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers and Precious Few (Eastern Evening News)
9 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jo Jo Gunn, Reformation and Ray Bones
10 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex
12 December 1967 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (cancelled)
12 December 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham
14 December 1967 – Student’s Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night Timers and Precious Few
15 December 1967 – “Big C”, Farnborough, Hampshire
16 December 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
18 December 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk
21 December 1967 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex
22 December 1967 – Manor House (could be London or Ipswich)
23 December 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester
24 December 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Bluecaps
27 December 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
30 December 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire with Peppers Machine
30 December 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester
31 December 1967 – Brave New World, Southsea, Hampshire
4 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
13 January 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Funny Farm
18 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Derby, Derbyshire
19 January 1968 – Students Union, Nottingham Regional College of Technology, Nottingham with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and The Litter
21 January 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
8 February 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
Around this time, Count Prince Miller, Wallace Wilson, Phil Chen and Rupert Balgobin gave notice that they were splitting from the group. Miller and Chen started to form The Counts with former member Carl Noel. The final gig with the old line-up appears to have been 2 March.
Jimmy James kept Art Regis, Fred “Nat” Frederick and Pat Sandy (aka Pat Gravesende) and started to recruit new musicians, billed as The New Vagabonds.
These included former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band members John Roberts (bass) and Herb Prestidge (drums). Another new recruit was trumpet player Barry Sutton and guitarist Dave Tedstone, who gave notice with his current employer Freddie Mack.
Initially, Art Regis’ old band mate from The Arthur Brown Union, Roy Stacey played bass before John Roberts took over.
17 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (billed as Jimmy James Show)
18 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex
23 February 1968 – Tottenham Royal, Tottenham, London
24 February 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
25 February 1968 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Coconut Mushroom
26 February 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (billed as Jimmy James Show)
29 February 1968 – Streatham Locarno, Streatham, London
1 March 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2 March 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester
The new line up comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar
Art Regis – organ
Roy Stacey – bass (replaced by John Roberts)
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone
Pat Gravesende – tenor and baritone saxophone
Barry Sutton – trumpet
Herb Prestidge – drums
Selected gigs
5 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (debut of new line up according to Regis’ diary) Roy Stacey on bass
6 March 1968 – South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, Hampshire
9 March 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Supernatural
10 March 1968 – Butlins “Regis Club” Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Roy Stacey left to work in a short-lived group with Iain Clark who went on to Cressida in late 1968 and John Roberts joined on bass
13 March 1968 – Mecca Ballroom, Leeds, West Yorkshire
16 March 1968 – Cheshire College of Education, Crewe, Cheshire
17 March 1968 – Lyddon Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
20 March 1968 – Top Rank, Bristol
22 March 1968 – Gig in Addington, London
23 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire
27 March 1968 – Tangerine Club, East Ham, London
28 March 1968 – Marimba, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
29 March 1968 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester
30 March 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)
In early April 1968, the press announces that Count Miller and other former Vagabonds had formed The Counts
5 April 1968 – Die Hallen, Kortrijk, Belgium with Johnny Halliday and The Lemons
6 April 1968 – Eden Ranch, Lens, Belgium
7 April 1968 – L’Omnibus and Le Trident, Paris, France
11 April 1968 – Barn Barbecue Dance, Thurmaston, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Alan Bown, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention, Legay, Sons & Lovers, The Equals, Pesky Gee, Pitiful Souls and Six Across (Regis says this clashes with the following gig)
11 April 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
12 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland
13 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland
14 April 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Dominoes
15 April 1968 – The Barn Barbecue, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Soft Machine, Fleetwood Mac, The Equals, Alan Bown, Fairport Convention, Legay, Pitiful Souls, Sons & Lovers, Six Across, Pesky Gee
19 April 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
20 April 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine (billed as The Jimmy James Show)
21 April 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
22 April 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk
24 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
25 April 1968 – The Pier, Worthing, West Yorkshire
26 April 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Delroy Williams and The Sugar Band, The New Trend and Continuity Big D Show
27 April 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinkley, Leicestershire (Regis has Hackney but this is more likely)
30 April 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London
4 May 1968 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Ten Years After and The Precious Few
8 May 1968 – Spa Lounge & Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
10 May 1968 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
11 May 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London
12 May 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham
21 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
24 May 1968 – Manor House (London or Ipswich)
25 May 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with support
26 May 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex
31 May 1968 – White Lion, Edgeware, London
1 June 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Peppermint Creams
3 June 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
7 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Green Ginger (billed as The Jimmy James Show)
8 June 1968 – Winter Gardens, Western Super Mare, Somerset
14 June 1968 – Anson Suite, New Union Building, Bristol
15 June 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
19 June 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts
20 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London
21 June 1968 – College of Education, Leicester
22 June 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)
23 June 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex
28 June 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
29 June 1968 – Newark Rugby Club, Newark, Nottinghamshire
30 June 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The West Coast Promotion
The new formation releases its debut 45, issued on Pye, “Red Red Wine” c/w “Who Could be Loving You?”
Tony Priestland, who has played with Art Regis in Arthur Brown’s band in 1965 briefly joins around about now plus a trumpet player called Don.
4 July 1968 – Cornwall Technical College (possibly St Austell) with PP Arnold and Spirit of John Morgan
6 July 1968 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent
7 July 1968 – Douglas House, U.S. Military Social Club, London
12 July 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
13 July 1968 – Gig in Yardley, Birmingham
14 July 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
16 July 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
18 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol
19 July 1968 – Tottenham Royal, London
21 July 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham
23 July 1968 – The Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
25 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire
26 July 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London
27 July 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
28 July 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire
At some point (most likely during July), the band recorded four tracks which were later picked up by Acid Jazz for its Lookin’ Good EP: “She’s Looking Good”, “Aunt Dora’s Love Soul Shack”, “Soul Sister, Brown Sugar” and “Why (Must I Be Treated So Bad)”
Regis’ diary has Scottish tour for 29 July-6 August 1968
Dave Tedstone leaves immediately after this tour to work with Geno Washington. His temporary replacement is guitarist John Bedder who has played with The Savages and also Winston G
The line-up now comprises:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
John Bedder – lead guitar
Art Regis – organ
John Roberts – bass
Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone
Pat Gravesende – baritone saxophone
Tony Priestland – alto saxophone
Barry Sutton – trumpet
Don ? – trumpet?
Herb Prestidge – drums
10 August 1968 – Botley, Oxfordshire
13 August 1968 – BBC Stuart Henry Show (if this is the date the show aired, this might be the tracks described above, later released by Acid Jazz)
15 August 1968 – Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire
16 August 1968 – Plaza, Teignmouth, Devon
16 August 1968 – Plaza, Tynemouth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (very unlikely but advertised)
17 August 1968 – R.A.F. Raven Club, Waddington, Devon
18 August 1968 – Linden Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
24 August 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
30 August 1968 – Candlelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Dave Tedstone returns around about now
31 August 1968 – Gig in Western Super Mare, Somerset (may be Tedstone’s first gig back)
1 September – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands
8 September – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire
9 September – Gig in Bath
12 September – Gig in Worthing, West Sussex
13 September 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
Around this time Art Regis departs and Bill Coleman takes over on organ. Tony Priestland also moves on to join Titus Groan. Another former Ram Jam member, Lionel Kingham comes in on sax
This same month, Pye issues the band’s LP Open Up Your Soul
25 September 1968 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
28 September 1968 – Leascliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent
1 October 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
4 October 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
5 October 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
9 October 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Renaissance Fair
15 October 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
18 October 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
19 October 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Privy Seal
20 October 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Chelfont Line
29 October 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
1 November 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with The Package Deal and Dave the Rave
3 November 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London
8 November 1968 – University of Sussex, Brighton, West Sussex
9 November 1968 – Pavilion, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
10 November 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
12 November 1968 – Kirkcaldy Ice Rink, Kirkcaldy, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession
13 November 1968 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Herd, The Procession and The Emeralds
15 November 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with Brian Marshall Foundation, Haze and Procession
15 November 1968 – Dundee Ice Rink, Dundee, Scotland with The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession
28 November 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
29 November 1968 – Elms Court Hotel, Botley, Oxford with Paper Lemon
30 November 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent
3 December 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
6 December 1968 – Pier Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire
7 December 1968 – Brighton University, Brighton, West Sussex
8 December 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art, northeast London with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Pretty Things
13 December 1968 – John Dalton College, Manchester
14 December 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands
14 December 1968 – Cliff Pavilion, Folkestone, Kent (unlikely)
15 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London
16 December 1968 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire
21 December 1968 – St George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Spring and Tom-E-Tee
In late December Jimmy James dissolves the current formation and puts together a new line up the following month. Phil Chen returns from The Counts and the group also features former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band member, guitarist Pete Gage
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Pete Gage – lead guitar
Bill Coleman – keyboards
Phil Chen – bass
Clive Stephens – saxophone
Barry Sutton – trumpet
+ others
Pete Gage describes the situation as a “pick up band vibe” withvarious musicians coming and going alongside those listed above. He was also getting tired of the soul scene and started to get into more early jazz fusion so later that year he and Stephens left to form Dada. Chen also departs and Coleman helps Jimmy James revamped the group again
Selected gigs
1 January 1969 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
6 January 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
10-11 January 1969 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
24 January 1969 – Shrewsbury Hotel, Bridgewater, Somerset
25 January 1969 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with Justin Tyme
26 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners
Melody Maker notes that Jimmy James split from their recording manager John Schroeder and will use independent producers from now on. Next is Pete Gage and 45 “Close The Door on My World”.
1 February 1969 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
4 February 1969 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire
6 February 1969 – Locarno, Portsmouth, Hampshire
8 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
13 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands
15 February 1969 – New Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, West Midlands
16 February 1969 – Belle Vue, Manchester
17 February 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Lemon Cartoon and Cleo’s Mood
22 February 1969 – Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset
The band releases the 45 “Open the Door” c/w “Why” on Pye
6 April 1969 – Sherwood rooms, Nottingham with Marv Johnson & The Bandwagon
12 April 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
15 April 1969 – Revolution, central London
27 April 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with White Rabbit
3 May 1969 – Kennington College, south London
26 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
2 June 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Rubber Soul Band and Wall City Jazzmen
7 June 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Rainbow Folly and The Connection
14 July 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
18 July 1969 – Devizes Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire with Tom Browne and Green Ice
20 July 1969 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Clyde McPhatter
Pip Williams joins on lead guitar around late July from The Fantastics’ backing band The House of Orange. From his recollections, it looks like some of the musicians who had played with Jimmy James in 1968 returned
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Pip Williams – lead guitar
Bill Coleman – keyboards
John Roberts – bass
Barry Sutton – trumpet
Lionel Kingham – tenor sax
Herb Prestidge – drums
Williams doesn’t remember many gigs but does recall playing at the Club Saint Hilaire de La Mer in St Maxime in the south of France during the summer, which lasted about a week. He also remembers that former member Count Prince Miller stepped in as MC a few times. The group later split from Jimmy James to back Jimmy Ruffin.
Selected gigs
6 August 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
6 September 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Attic Express and Paper Lemon
14 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham
21 September 1969 – Caribbean Music Festival, Empire Pool, Wembley, London with Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker, Maxi Romeo, Jackie Edwards, Count Prince Miller, Joyce Bond, Root and Jenny Jackson, Black Velvet, Derek Morgan, The Mohawks, Pat Kelly and The Skatalites
2 October 1969 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band
25 October 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Ritual
27 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Petrus, Golliwog and Wall City Jazzmen
31 October 1969 – Flamingo Entertainment Centre, Hereford
8 November 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Village Green Road Show
9 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham
23 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
24 December 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Freddie Mac Show and Lloyd Williams Soul Caravan
3 January 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Dandelion Replaced Spooky Tooth
In early 1970, James completely revised the group line-up as the following:
Jimmy James – lead vocals
Chris Garefield – lead guitar
Alan Kirk – keyboards
Alan Wood – bass
Russell Courtney – drums
Selected gigs
2 March 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands
14 May 1970 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London
23 May 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support
31 May 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
4 July 1970 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London
28 July 1970 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham with Major Lance, J J Jackson & Dilemma, The Fantastic Honey and Darling & The Purple Bloom
9 August 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
10 October 1970 – Madison Club, Torquay, Devon
24 December 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Fantastics and Carl Edwards Roadshow
Art Regis helped greatly by sharing his diary dates. Thanks also to Pete Gage, Pip Williams, Dave Tedstone, Phil Chen and Roy Stacey. Big thanks to David Else for his help with chronology of the early years and fact checking
Sources include:
Aldershot News, Beat Instrumental, Maidstone Gazette, East Kent Times & Mail, Nuneaton Evening Tribune, Fabulous 208 Magazine, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Argus (Brighton), Bournemouth Evening Echo, Gloucestershire Echo, Melody Maker, Leicester Mercury, Southern Evening Echo, Northwich Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Newham, West & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express, Yorkshire Evening Post, Eastern Evening News, Evening Star (Ipswich), Bucks Free Press (High Wycombe), Dundee Evening Telegraph, Folkestone & Hythe Gazette, Essex Chronicle, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Portsmouth News, Retford Times, The Star, the Dorset Evening Echo, the Express & Star, Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. Western Gazette, Derbyshire Times, Wakefield Express, Dave Allen provided Birdcage gigs for Southsea and Eastney.
Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.
Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians.
Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.
The first line-up of this band must have been formed in October 1965 because an advert in Melody Maker from October 1968 says that the group was due to play at the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street on 13 October 1968 to mark the band’s third anniversary.
Sometime in November, Freddie Mack was briefly paired with The Phil Wainman Band and female singer Cleo Sylvester (aka Sylvestre). The group’s line up at the time comprised lead guitarist Tony Sinclair; bass player Ron Thomas; organist Mick Fletcher; sax players Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney; and drummer Phil Wainman.
According to Wainman, Mack was resident DJ at Dolly’s Club in Soho and they shared a brief residency there. The group was then lined up to play a Christmas/New Year show at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington with Mack.
Mel Wayne says that Mick Fletcher was staying with him in Twickenham and the pair had problems with the trains and arrived late. Mack was going to fine them but the rest of the band rallied and said they’d leave if he did.
Unfortunately, the show proved to be the end of their relationship and Wainman’s band went on to work with West End Promotions, backing a succession of Jamaican artists, including Millie Small, Owen Grey, Jackie Edwards and most notably Jimmy Cliff.
Around February 1966, Mack asked sax player Roger Warwick, who’d done some rehearsals with Phil Wainman’s band, to become part of a new, larger stage show that drew on musicians from two bands and subsequently became known as This ‘N’ That. The new formation retained singer Cleo Sylvester.
Mack had also asked American singer Ronald Bertram Greaves (aka Sonny Childe) to join the new stage show but Warwick doesn’t think he stuck around long.
Originally from Ealing, Warwick had attended Walpole Grammar School and was in the year below (and was friends with) John McVie. Studying sax under Don Rendell, he had previously played on The Tornados’ single “Early Bird”, produced by Joe Meek.
He then worked with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages and played a few gigs with The Lower Third (with David Bowie on sax) before backing singer Bobby Rio on a German tour in December 1965 with future Mack Sound bass player Alan Cartwright.
Back in England, Warwick joined a short-lived group based in Fulham, which also included an Irish singer called Leon, tenor sax player Nobby Clarke and a Welsh Hammond organist, who was possibly Mike Vaughn-Jones. When Warwick joined Freddie Mack, Leon, Clarke and Vaughn-Jones also came onboard. (Ed. Hammond organist Paul Abrahams says he had played with Warwick previously and was involved with the band by early June.)
The other group that Mack drew on for musicians were Screaming Lord Sutch’s latest version of The Savages, Liverpool outfit, Derry Wilkie & The Others.
Lord Sutch had been using the musicians as a backing group for several months but by April 1966 the players were keen to break away from Sutch and try something new.
The entire outfit – singer Derry Wilkie; lead guitarist Ernie Hayes; tenor sax player Phil Kenzie; baritone sax player Ashton Tootell; bass player Derek Bond; and drummer Billy Adamson accepted Mack’s offer and signed up.
Joining forces with Warwick’s Fulham players, the new formation debuted at the Ram Jam in Brixton on 22 April 1966 under the name Freddie Mack’s This ‘N’ That.
Warwick remembers that sax player Jimmy Jewell, a former member of Kris Ryan & The Questions, played some gigs with the band during this time.
Jewell confirms that he briefly played with Mack around April 1966 together with former Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions guitarist Martin Shaw and an American singer called Richard Lanham, who’d recently lived in Milan, Italy.
Jewell and Shaw did not stay long and would take part in a German tour with The Paramounts in September 1966 backing singer Chris Andrews.
The excellent Derry Wilkie website also lists a number of other players that became part of this larger show during mid-1966: singer Jo Baker; lead guitarist Geoff Krivit; trumpet player Mark Charig; and percussionist Eddie Lincoln.
Krivit, incidentally, had briefly been a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1965 and Julian Covey & The Machine in early 1966. He would go on to play with Dr K’s Blues Band. Charig meanwhile had been a member of The Sidewinders (recently playing at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington) and later worked with Bluesology (alongside Elton John).
Billed as This ‘N’ That, the line-up recorded a lone single, “Get Down With It/I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” c/w “I Care About You” for the Strike label, which was released on 10 June 1966.
Judging by an advert printed in 11 June 1966 edition of Melody Maker, the single features singers Derry Wilkie, Sonny Childe, Cleo Sylvester and Leon plus “the explosive sound of TNT and Mack Sound”.
The Redbridge & Ilford Recorder lists the band playing at Oscar’s Grotto in Ilford, east London on 11 June 1966.
The same newspaper also lists the band, billed as The TNT Show with The Youth (born Trevor Sutherland and later future reggae artist IJahman Levi), Derek and Cleo playing at the same venue on 9 July 1966.
Most of the musicians left immediately afterwards to work as Sonny Childe & The TNT. According to Ernie Hayes, when Sonny Childe returned to the US around August 1967, the guitarist, plus organist Mike Vaughn-Jones and drummer Billy Adamson joined forces with bass player Jet Harris and singer Pete Gage for a few months. Phil Kenzie meanwhile joined Tuesday’s Children for four months.
In November 1967, Ernie Hayes, Mike Vaughn-Jones, Billy Adamson and Phil Kenzie reunited in TNT to back American singer PP Arnold with former Creation’s member Eddie Phillips on bass. Adamson later played with The Searchers while Kenzie returned to Freddie Mack’s band in spring 1968 (see entry).
In the meantime Roger Warwick helped Freddie Mack put together a new version of The Mack Sound, retaining Cleo Sylvester, The Youth and Derry Wilkie. He brought in his old friend Alan Cartwright on bass plus some new players.
The band rehearsed extensively that summer and Warwick remembers the new line up playing a day long show at Douglas House at Lancaster Gate with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Ed. Fame played here on 29 May 1966 but this would have been too early in the timeline unless Warwick meant an earlier version.)
The Redbridge & Ilford Recorder lists the band, billed as The Mac Sounds, playing at Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London with The TNT on 30 July 1966.
Around this time, Warwick and Cartwright were among the musicians who backed The Youth on a lone single for Polydor Records, a cover of Smokey Robinson’s “As Long As There Is Love” backed by Otis Redding’s “Your One and Only Man” at Abbey Road.
Drawing on a number of web sources, and accounts from several musicians, it looks like the new line up’s formation, which signed to Dumont Associates (as advertised in Melody Maker’s 15 October 1966 issue), comprised the following players at some point between September 1966 and January 1967:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Derry Wilkie – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Kookie Eaton – lead vocals
Ged Peck – lead guitar
Billy Davidson – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Roger Warwick – baritone saxophone
Clarence Jackson (aka JJ Johnson) – trombone
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Burdett – alto saxophone (possibly joined later in 1966)
Eddie Thornton – trumpet (joined October 1966)
B J Wilson – drums (replaced by Roger Truth in November 1966)
Clarence Jackson was a member of Otis Redding’s touring band when the singer had made his UK debut in September 1966, so it’s probably safe to assume he joined after the tour had finished.
Eddie Thornton, however, was still working with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames until October 1966, and therefore it’s possible that another trumpet player was there before.
Thanks to recollections from Ged Peck, it appears that the first keyboard player was Billy Davidson (who later worked with The Flowerpot Men among others) but he was replaced by Art Regis at some point in early 1967 (possibly start of February).
Of the other musicians listed above, lead guitarist Ged Peck had been a member of The Favourite Sons before briefly playing with Chris Lamb & The Universals.
B J Wilson had played with The Paramounts and George Bean & The Runners. He was an old friend of Alan Cartwright’s.
One thing is clear from tracing Freddie Mack’s bands during the 1960s, the line-ups tended to be pretty fluid and (particularly) horn players appeared to come and go on a regular basis, making pinning down definitive formations almost impossible. There were often around 15 musicians in the group at one time.
Throughout this period, musicians appear to have come and gone on a regular basis. According to Nick Simper’s excellent website, Roger Truth, who had played with the future Deep Purple bass player in Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, took over the drum stool from B J Wilson in late November 1966.
Roger Warwick left in December 1966 while the band were playing at the Upper Cut in Forest Gate, east London. Warwick moved to Turin, Italy to join a band being formed to back Lebanese singer Patrick Samson.
He remembers that when he left, singer Richard Lanham was with the band.
West Indian trumpet player Sonny Corbett joined during early 1967 as did English trumpet player Chris Dawe.
In January 1967, it’s possible The Mack Sound comprised the following (plus other unknown musicians):
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Derry Wilkie – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Kookie Eaton – lead vocals
Ged Peck – lead guitar
Billy Davidson – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Clarence Jackson – trombone
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Dawe – trumpet
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Eddie Thornton – trumpet
Roger Truth – drums
Hammond organist Art Regis, who’d previously performed with Mel Turner & Rupert and The Red Devils, Dutch band The Defenders, The Arthur Brown Union and Ralph Denyer & The Uptown Band, remembers Derry Wilkie, Tony Morgan, Kookie Eaton, Dick Morrisey, Bernie Wehrman, Clarence Jackson and Eddie Thornton being in the band at the same time as him.
Art Regis recalls Freddie Mack coming to his flat in Portobello Road and discussing the possibility of forming “an extravagant international soul show”. The Hammond organist also remembers playing at Silver Blades Ice Rink in Streatham and a trek down to Cornwall to play an air sea rescue base in Falmouth.
More importantly, Art Regis also recalls performing with Freddie Mack at Billy Walker’s The Upper Cut in Forest Gate, which opened on 21 December 1966. According to Melody Maker, Mack’s band was the resident support band at this notable venue until early February 1967.
Nick Simper also spent a week with the band when it was resident support act at the Upper Cut (most likely mid-January 1967) after working with Bobby Hebb’s touring band. However, Alan Cartwright was soon back and Simper formed The New Pirates the following month.
During the first few weeks of February Roger Truth dropped out briefly to reform The New Pirates with Simper but had a change of mind and returned to Freddie Mack after some early rehearsals. B J Wilson filled the drum stool in the interim.
Art Regis would reunite with Nick Simper and Ged Peck in June 1967 in Billie Davis & The Quality before working briefly with Engelbert Humperdinck. Regis confirms that he then joined Jimmy James & The Vagabonds on 27 July 1967.
Another keyboard player that is often associated with Freddie Mack during this time is future Gonzalez member Roy Davies, who’d previously been a member of Southeast London band, The Loose Ends. It looks most likely that Davies came on-board when Art Regis left (around mid-February).
In late February 1967, B J Wilson joined Sands and then Procol Harum. Roger Truth returned to the drum stool.
Ged Peck certainly was gone sometime in late March 1967 and joined Nick Simper in Billie Davis & The Quality that May before going on to a number of notable acts, including Warhorse (alongside Simper). His temporary replacement was former Tornados and Echoes guitarist Stuart Taylor.
Lead guitarist Dave Tedstone, who had previously been a member of The Doc Thomas Group, remembers going to Eel Pie Island to see Freddie Mack’s band and subsequently joined. Tedstone also recalls that Stuart Taylor was on guitar at the time. Thanks to Pete Watt’s excellent research this gig can be confirmed as 4 April 1967.
Selected gigs:
2 September 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants. Billed as Freddie Mack Sounds and His Show
9 September 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire. Billed as The Mack Sound (ten-piece band)
10 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Eddie Cave & The Fix, The Kop, The Hideaways, The Seftons and The Rocking Vicars
16 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
22 September 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire Billed as The Mack Sound
1 October 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Jaguars
13 October 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire
15 October 1966 – Drill Hall, Dumfries, Scotland with The Misfits
19 October 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands. Billed as The Mac Sound
20 October 1966 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands with The Visuals Billed as Mack Sound (11-piece)
21 October 1966 – The Royal Oak, Hockley Heath, West Midlands Billed as Mack Sound (11-piece)
22 October 1966 – Bromsgrove Baths, Bromsgrove, West Midlands with The Exchequers
28 October 1966 – Cavalier Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Tony G Ford & The Crescendos. Billed as Derrie Wilkie & The Mack Sound
29 October 1966 – Cavalier Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The King Bees. Billed as Derrie Wilkie & The Mack Sound
5 November 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Alan Bown Set
8 November 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire Billed as Mack Sound (ten-piece with Derrie Wilkie)
26 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
27 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
4 December 1966 – Douglas House, Lancaster Gate, Central London (listed as 13-piece band) with Herbie Goins & The Nighttimers
5 December 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
10 December 1966 – King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent with In-Betweens and Lonnie’s Few
11 December 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel article, dated 16 December, page 13, lists 16 band members)
11 December 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield with The Orginators Creed, The Hobo Flats and The Chicago Line
16 December 1966 – Tofts, Folkestone, Kent
17 December 1966 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry
21 December 1966-12 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London:
21 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Who
22 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Easybeats
23 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch
24 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Eric Burdon & The Animals
26 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimi Hendrix Experience (day)
26 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Pretty Things (evening)
27-29 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
30 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Spencer Davis Group
31 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (This may not have happened if gig below took place)
31 December 1966 – Assembly Rooms, Dumfries, Scotland
1 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Move (This may not have happened if above gig took place)
2 January 1967 – Newton Stewart, Galloway, Scotland Second Scottish gig suggests not all Upper Cut shows in January happened
2-5 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (This may not have happened due to Scottish tour)
6 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Small Faces
7 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Bitter End Singers
8 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Mindbenders (Nick Simper’s website says Pink Floyd replaced The Mindbenders. Simper attended and saw Syd Barrett’s group perform. He filled in for Alan Cartwright for a week at this venue, possibly the following week)
9-12 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (possibly with Nick Simper
13 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Four Pennies (possibly with Nick Simper)
14 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Terry Lightfoot’s Jazzmen (possibly with Nick Simper)
15-19 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
20 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Sounds Incorporated
21 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Fourmost
22-26 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
28 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimi Hendrix Experience
29-31 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
Possible that Art Regis took over from Billy Davidson around about now. Not long after Roger Truth dropped out to reform The New Pirates with Nick Simper. B J Wilson returned to the drum kit.
1-2 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
3 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Winston’s Fumbs (now listed as 15-piece band)
4 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers, The Satin Dolls and The Avalons
5-9 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
10 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Rockin’ Berries
11 February 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Fire Flies
12 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
It’s possible that Roy Davies took over from Art Regis around about now
13 February 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall with The Jaguars (The Sheffield Star says they also play the Esquire in Sheffield in South Yorkshire on this day which seems more likely with the Cleethorpes gig later this week)
14 February 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (this was probably cancelled in light of the northern gigs)
15 February 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes
16 February 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
18 February 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with The Children (10-piece band)
After this gig, Roger Truth returned when B J Wilson left to join Sands
22 February 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes
23 February 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands
25 February 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
8 March 1967 – Cromwell Club, Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with Umpteenth Time
9 March 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hants
10 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
13 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (back by demand)
17 March 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester
18 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Kool Combination, The Bone and The Caribbean Steel Band and Ray Bones
18 March 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Executives
19 March 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
23 March 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes
24-25 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Unit 4 Plus 2, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Roman Empire and The New Pirates
27 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Unit 4 Plus 2, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Roman Empire and The New Pirates
Ged Peck left around about now and Stuart Taylor took over lead guitar duties for a week. Possible Art Regis may have done the Cornwall gigs below
I would personally like to thank the following for helping to piece this story together: Mel Wayne, Phil Wainman, Roger Warwick, Art Regis, Dave Tedstone and Nick Simper.
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW TO ADD/CORRECT INFORMATION
Live gig sources:
During my research on Freddie Mack from 1965-1969, I have found gigs from many newspapers. Here are some of the sources:
The Cornish Guardian, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Sentinel, Melody Maker, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Lincolnshire Standard, Birmingham Evening Mail, NME, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Aldershot News, Manchester Evening News & Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Stafford Newsletter and Cambridgeshire Times
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials