Tag Archives: Bill Wyman

The End

Photo may be subject to copyright: The End, late 1967. Left to right: John Horton, Hugh Attwooll, Dave Brown, Colin Giffin and Nicky Graham

Colin Giffin – lead guitar, saxophone, vocals

Nicky Graham – organ, vocals

Dave Brown – bass, vocals

John Horton – saxophone

Roger Groom – drums

Formed around May 1965, The End brought together musicians from two Surrey bands. Giffin (b. 21 September 1943, Edmonton, Middlesex) and Brown (b. 2 July 1943, Carshalton, Surrey) had first worked together in 1961, playing with Bobby Angelo & The Tuxedos, who also included Groom (b. 10 November 1939, Walthamstow, east London) before he joined The Nashville Teens.

During 1963, Giffin and Brown joined Mike Berry’s new band, The Innocents who toured with The Rolling Stones on two national tours in 1964, during which time they befriended Bill Wyman who would later produce The End.

On 18 November 1964, the pair brought in Groom (who’d been replaced by Barry Jenkins in The Nashville Teens) and keyboard player Graham (b. January 1945, Durban, South Africa; d. 3 February 2024) from Dickie Pride & The Original Topics to record two tracks at RG Jones studio in Morden. The recordings, which were not released until 1996, paved the way for The End a few months later.

Nicky Graham on keyboards with The Original Topics. Photo: Malcolm Penn

Graham had previously played with Kingston upon Thames area bands, including The Electrons and The Classics.

1965

During March/April 1965, the same quartet recorded six more songs, which all remained unreleased until 1996.

John Horton far right. Thanks to Alan Collins for the photo

Completed with sax player John Horton (b. 14 November 1945, Surbiton, Surrey; 25 September 2023), who’d worked with Kingston upon Thames group The Outsiders and then Dickie Pride & The Original Topics, The End initially backed singers Kenny Lynch and Helen Shapiro.

19 June 1965 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Proof (Bletchley District Gazette) Presume this is the same band

On 26 August 1965, The End recorded Brown and Giffin’s “I Can’t Get Any Joy” and “Hey Little Girl” with Bill Wyman and Glyn Johns producing. They also cut the pair’s “Searching for My Baby”, which was shelved until 1996.

24 September 1965 – Astoria, Finsbury Park, north London with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Tottenham Weekly Herald)

May be gig missing on 25 September 1965

26 September 1965 – Colston Hall, Bristol with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

27 September 1965 – Odeon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

28 September 1965 – Capitol Cinema, Cardiff, Wales with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

29 September 1965 – Granada, Shrewsbury with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

May be gig missing on 30 September 1965

1 October 1965 – ABC Chester, Cheshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

2 October 1965 – ABC Wigan, Lancashire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

3 October 1965 – Odeon Manchester with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

4 October 1965 – Gaumont, Bradford, West Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

5 October 1965 – ABC Carlisle, Cumbria with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

6 October 1965 – Odeon Glasgow, Scotland with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

7 October 1965 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne  & Wear with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

8 October 1965 – ABC Stockton-on-Tees with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

9 October 1965 – Odeon, Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

10 October 1965 – Empire, Liverpool with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

11 October 1965 – Gaumont, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

12 October 1965 – Gaumont, Doncaster, South Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

The End with Bill Wyman, October 1965. Left to right: John Horton, Nicky Graham, Dave Brown, Bill Wyman, Roger Groom and Colin Giffin

13 October 1965 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

14 October 1965 – Odeon Birminingham with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

15 October 1965 – ABC Cambridge with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

16 October 1965 – ABC Northampton with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

17 October 1965 – Granada, Tooting, southwest London with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)

On 22 October 1965, Philips released “I Can’t Get Any Joy” c/w “Hey Little Girl” as a single, but it failed to chart.

5 November 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex with The Orioles (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser) Billed as Mike Berry & The End

During December 1965, The End toured with singer Billie Davis and former Presidents’ drummer Eddie Patterson played some of the dates (either replacing Groom or filling in for him).

4 December 1965 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The Cygnets (East Kent Times) They backed Billie Davis

24 December 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Curtis and Co (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

Photo may be subject to copyright. The End, late 1965. Left to right: John Horton, Roger Groom, Nicky Graham (sitting), Dave Brown and Colin Giffin

1966

4 February 1966 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Donna Boys (Luton News) They backed Billie Davis

Roger Groom left to replace Barry Jenkins in The Nashville Teens and Hugh Attwooll took over drums.

Around the same time, Gordon “Gordie” Smith took over from John Horton on saxophone.

Photo: John Treais

10 April 1966 – Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey (Poster from John Treais) Billed as The Ends

30 April 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Anteeks (Melody Maker)

14 May 1966 – House of Eden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Solents (Essex County Standard) Says The End are going on Stevie Wonder tour in June 1966

29 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Next Move and The Knack (Melody Maker)

 

4 June 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Keith Powell and Billie Davis, The Manchester Playboys, The Humperdinks and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)

4 June 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Live Music website)

Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer

17 June 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music websiteThis might be  a different The End from the southcoast

25 June 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The New York Public Library and The Carl Douglas Set (Melody Maker)

 

3 July 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

14 July 1966 – Granville Club, Nottingham with Don’s Gear (Nottingham Evening Post)

28 July 1966 – Blue Triangle Club, Ealing, London (Fabulous 208)

 

2-8 August 1966 – Cedar Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

6 August 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Live Music website)

 

14 October 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Live Music website)

15 October 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) This might be a different The End from the southcoast

18-23 October 1966 – Cleopatra Clubs, Cardiff, Wales and Bristol, Avon (Fabulous 208) Backing Elkie Brooks

31 October 1966 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (East Kent Times)

Photo may be subject to copyright. The End’s debut Spanish 45, 1967. Clockwise from bottom left: Nicky Graham, Hugh Attwooll, Dave Brown, Gordon Smith and Colin Giffin

On 1 November 1966, The End recorded a cover of Joe Tex’s “You Better Believe It Baby” and Don Covay and Ron Miller’s “Please Do Something” with Bill Wyman producing. The two tracks were paired for a Spanish 45.

12 November 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) This might be a different The End from the south coast

According to Nicky Graham, The End played in Zemmat in Switzerland for three weeks over the Christmas period.

Photo may be subject to copyright. The End, 1967. Left to right: Nicky Graham, Colin Giffin, Hugh Attwooll, Dave Brown and Gordon Smith

Smith’s former neighbour Sandra Le Brocq, a dancer/choreographer, was working for Spanish record label Sonoplay, and instrumental in setting the group up with three months’ of work in Spain in March 1967.

1967

21 January 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser/Clapham Advertiser)

11 February 1967 – Alkham Social Club, Alkham Village Hall, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)

On 24 February 1967, The End recorded Dave Brown and Colin Giffin’s “Why” and “Yo-Yo” with Bill Wyman producing.

Photo may be subject to copyright

In March, The End moved to Madrid and played in Spain for three months. Soon after arriving, Sonoplay paired the two latest recordings as a single.

16 June 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser/Clapham Advertiser)

5 July 1967 – Steryodelik Dance, Church Hall, Easthampstead, Berkshire (Bracknell News)

On 12 July (possibly while Hugh Attwooll still in Spain), The End with Chris Winters on drums recorded Brown, Giffin and Graham’s “We’ve Got It Made” with Bill Wyman producing at RG Studio in Morden. The track, however, was shelved until 1996. 

Gordon Smith meanwhile had remained in Spain and would leave the band when they returned to the UK.

7 August 1967 – Worsley Civic Hall, Greater Manchester with Richard Kent Style (Bolton Evening News)

On 17 August, The End recorded a cover of Bonnie Dobson and Tim Rose’s “Morning Dew” with Graham’s former band mate from The Original Topics’ Lennie Neldrett guesting on lead guitar.

Photo may be subject to copyright

Around September/October, The End recorded a cover of Don Covay’s “Daddy Loves Baby” with Bill Wyman producing which was shelved until 1996. 

Guitarist Terry Taylor, who had met The End in Spain during spring 1967 while playing with London bands The High Society and The Mode (the latter recorded a lone 45 for Sonoplay) appeared on Giffin’s “Little Annie” around this time but the track remained unreleased until 1997.

Photo may be subject to copyright

On 4 September, the band recorded Bill Wyman and Pete Gosling’s “Loving, Sacred Loving”, which had previously been cut by Moon’s Train, at Olympic Studios in Barnes with Wyman producing.

Photo may be subject to copyright. John Horton (centre) returns briefly in late 1967

On 8 November, with John Horton briefly back in the fold, the group recorded Bill Wyman and Pete Gosling’s “Shades of Orange” with Bill Wyman producing at Olympic in Barnes.

The track, which had previously been cut with Gosling’s band Moon’s Train (featuring Graham’s old band mate Malcolm Penn from The Original Topics on drums) was shelved and released in 1996. Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones played tabla on the recording.

Photo may be subject to copyright

1968

John Horton, who was pictured extensively with The End during this period and would appear on the cover of the band’s LP (he also came up with the original sleeve design) left around early March and Terry Taylor (who had been living in Sweden after leaving The Mode) joined on lead guitar. Horton is mentioned in an article printed in the Daily Mirror on 29 February entitled “The Beginning of The End”.

According to Melody Maker, “Shades of Orange” (featuring Horton on sax) was released on 9 March.

Photo may be subject to copyright. The End late 1967 before John Horton (far left) departed for a second time.

Ten days later, on 19 March, The End began to record material at Decca’s studio in West Hampstead (and also Olympic Studios in Barnes) that subsequently appeared on their Introspection LP. Produced by Bill Wyman, the sessions continued up until late June but the LP was delayed and finally released in November 1969.

On 24 April, The End recorded the Brown/Giffin/Graham/Taylor collaboration “Building up a Dream”, which remained unreleased until 1997.

On 25 May, the band recorded Brown and Graham’s “Today Tomorrow”, another track that is shelved until 1997.

Photo may be subject to copyright

In June, sessions for the band’s LP wrapped up. The track “She Said Yeah” featured sax player Ken Leeman from Moon’s Train and Taylor’s former Mode compatriot Jim Henderson on harmony vocal.

20 September 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

22 September 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

6 October 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

10 October 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

11 October 1968 – White Hart, Didcot, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

13 October 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

 

8 November 1968 – Regal Ballroom, Bonnyrigg, Scotland with The Flirtations and Cream Puff War (South Midlothian Advertiser)

30 November 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London with The Pretty Things and Auriel (Melody Maker)

13 December 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

In December, Giffin left for a solo career and Attwooll returned to Spain and worked with Miguel Rios among others.

New drummer Paul Francis had previously played with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations, The Stuart James Inspiration and Pepper among others.

Returning to Madrid, The End played at JJs and Piccadilly.

1969

Having returned to England, the new line-up recorded the group composition “Son of Lightning” with Bill Wyman producing at Olympic Studios on 4 March. The track was left in the can and finally released in 1999.

9 March 1969 – Toby Jug, Tolworth, southwest London (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

 

1 April 1969 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Led Zeppelin and Pale Green Limousine (Melody Maker)

On 3 April, The End recorded another group composition “Second Glance”, which wasn’t released until 1999. Another band collaboration “North Thames Gas Board” cut on 15 April likewise was shelved until 1999. The track featured Ian Stewart guesting on piano.

During May, The End appeared at the Star Club in Hamburg, sharing the bill with The Ace Kefford Stand (featuring Cozy Powell on drums).

Returning to the UK in June, The End headed back to Spain for several months during which time they toured backing Billie Davis. During this time, Th End backed Spanish singer Miguel Rios on his LP Despierta.

Photo may be subject to copyright

On 10 December, The End recorded two band collaborations that were shelved at the time: “So Free” and “My Friend”. The latter was re-cut by Tucky Buzzard.

1970

On 23 January, The End cut the group collaboration “Turn on Waterstone”, which was finally released in 1999.

On 13 February, the band laid down another band co-write “Mistress Bean” with session guitarist Chris Spedding guesting on the track. Taylor’s “For Eleanor” was recorded the next day but like “Mistress Bean” it was shelved until 1999.

Photo may be subject to copyright. The End, 1970. Left to right: Nicky Graham, Terry Taylor, Paul Francis, Dave Brown and Jim Henderson

Shortly afterwards, Taylor introduced his former band mate from The Mode, Jim Henderson as a front man. The group returned to Spain and changed name to Tucky Buzzard.

A huge thanks to David Wells and his superb sleeve notes to the must-have End CD compilation “From Beginning to End”, which has details on the recording dates.

Paul Francis’ excellent book “Drumming up Vibrations” also has a wealth of information.

Thanks also to Malcolm Penn and Eddie Patterson for information.

Thanks to John Warburg for some info.

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

 

The Warren Davis Monday Band

The original Warren Davis Monday Band from early 1967. Photo: Bruce Usherwood

Formed from the ashes of Croydon R&B outfit, The Boardwalkers, who’d recorded two tracks on a private pressing demo single – “A Miracle” and “Any Man’s Girl” (two versions), the original Warren Davis Monday Band came together in January 1967.

Warren Davis – (aka Max Spinks) – lead vocals

Rob Walker – lead guitar/vocals

Andy Wilson – Hammond organ 

Bruce Usherwood – bass/vocals

Paul Houlton – tenor saxophone

Martin Grice – tenor saxophone

Peter Mole – drums

The Boardwalkers in Croydon, March 1966. Clockwise from top left: Bruce Usherwood, Jon White, Rob Walker, Peter Mole, Warren Davis (aka Max Spinks) and Martin Grice. Photo: Bruce Usherwood

This formation cuts the band’s debut single – Bill Wyman and Peter Gosling’s “Wait For Me” c/w Warren Davis’ “I Don’t Wanna Hurt You” (Columbia BD 8190). Usherwood knew Wyman and Gosling, who was working with Moon’s Train.

7 January 1967 – Southwark Pop Scene, Newington Public Hall, Walworth Road, south London with Manfred Mann and Dave Cash (South East London Mercury)

20 January 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

22 January 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

29 January 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

4 February 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Bobcats

5 February 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

10 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Rockin’ Berries

11 February 1967 – Manhole, Redhill, Surrey

12 February 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, central Soho, London

18 February 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with support (Kentish Express)

23 February 1967 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with Ty-Burns (Aldershot News)

25 February 1967 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Shame (Aldershot News)

 

5 March 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

11 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

12 March 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

19 March 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

26 March 1967 –  Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

 

1 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Dave Berries & The Cruisers

2 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

8  April 1967 – Booker T & The MGs rave about them in Melody Maker

9 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

15 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

16 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

17 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd

22-23 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)

27 April 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

28 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jeff Beck Group

29-30 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

 

4 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

6-7 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

13 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Terry Reid with Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers

Around this time, the band was joined briefly by Welshman, guitarist Dave Edmunds, who took over from Rob Walker. Melody Maker‘s 13 May issue, page 14, includes an advert for the group looking for a new singer and guitarist.

Edmunds who would soon move on to join the band that became Love Sculpture later became a successful solo artist. Walker briefly returned to the group after Edmunds had played only a handful of gigs.

14 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

16 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

21 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

25 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

27 May 1967 – Roaring 20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London

28 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Sookie Dolls

 

4 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

5 June 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Edwin Starr and Band of Joy

6 June 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Edwin Starr

8 June 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Edwin Starr gig but most likely The Warren Davis Monday Band as backing group)

9 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with Edwin Starr

9 June 1967 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Edwin Starr

10 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Manfred Mann, Edwin Starr, The Darlings and Ray Bones

11 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

12 June 1967 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey with Edwin Starr

18 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

25 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

2 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Moons Train and The Trap

8 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Small Faces

9 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

Rob Walker left permanently around now. Further changes took place soon after when Andy Wilson and Paul Houlton also departed, the latter to join Moon’s Train.

L-R: Bruce Usherwood, Mick Patel, David Foster, Del Paramor, Martin Grice, Peter Mole and Warren Davis (aka Max Spinks). Photo: Bruce Usherwood

A new line-up comprised:

Warren Davis – lead vocals

David Foster – keyboards (came over from Vancouver with The Canadian Strangers)

Mick Patel – lead guitar/saxophone/vocals (ex-Loose Ends)

Martin Grice – tenor saxophone

Bruce Usherwood – bass/vocals

Peter Mole – drums

While the band was rehearsing at Billy Walker’s Upper Cut, they auditioned tenor saxophone Derek “Del” Paramor, who joined from Vince Edwards’ group. Until May 1967, he’d worked with David Essex & The Mood Indigo.

15 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Wynder K Frog (new line up’s debut)

16 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

22 July 1967 – Central R&B Club, Gillingham, Kent with Derrick Dee Soul Show

23 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

23 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (late nighter)

29 July 1967 – Leeds International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire

30 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

2 August 1967 – The current formation cuts two tracks at Regent Sound studios with Jeff Collins producing. The recordings are featured on their second single – a cover of the Raleigh/Linden co-write (and recorded by Lou Rawls) “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” c/w Warren Davis and David Foster’s “Without Fear” (Columbia BD 8270).

4 August 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London

6 August 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Eric Burdon & The Animals

6 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

Soon after, the band headed to Naples, Italy to play at the NATO base from 9-16 August. The trip was a disaster as the club on the base didn’t know anything about the booking and the group only played a few times so they could afford to return to London.

19 August 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London

26 August 1967 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk

27 August 1967 – Cat-Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal) This isn’t in Del Paramor’s gig list so was probably cancelled

28 August 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London

28 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, central London

Left to right: Martin Grice, Del Paramor, Warren Davis, Peter Mole, David Foster, Bruce Usherwood and Mick Patel. Photo: Bruce Usherwood

Following the double-nighter in Soho, David Foster, Mick Patel and Bruce Usherwood all departed. Usherwood subsequently joined Patrick Dane & The Front Line Band. Foster returned to Canada where he became a successful solo artist and producer.

The band regrouped, adding two former members of The Overlanders, lead guitarist Paul Brett and bass player Paul Petts. They also brought in keyboard player Keith Beck (real name: Burberry).

Clockwise top left: Keith Beck, Del Paramor, Paul Brett (hat), Peter Mole, Martin Grice, Warren Davis and Paul Petts. Photo: Paul Brett

The line-up now comprised:

Warren Davis – lead vocals

Paul Brett – lead guitar/vocals

Keith Beck – Hammond organ

Martin Grice – tenor saxophone

Del Paramor – tenor saxophone

Paul Petts – bass

Peter Mole – drums

8 September 1967 – Harrow Inn, Woolwich, southeast London

9 September 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London

17 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street Soho, central London

22 September 1967 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

22 September 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, central London with Lloyd Alexander’s Blues Band

23 September 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire

29 September 1967 – Elm Hotel, Leigh on Sea, Essex

30 September 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

 

1 October 1967 – Lyme Regis, Dorset (possibly Marine Theatre)

4 October 1967 – Flamingo, Soho, central London

6 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with The Locomotion

7 October 1967 – Croydon Tech, Croydon, south London

10 October 1967 – Staircase, Soho, central London (opening night of club with Cat Stevens as guest of honour, who wasn’t performing)

13 October 1967 – Beachcomber (Dunstable, Bedfordshire?)

14 October 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Wales with The Raynes (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)

16 October 1967 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex

20 October 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London

21 October 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London

21 October 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London

28 October 1967 – Assembly Rooms, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire

31 October 1967 – Beachcomber, Dunstable, Bedfordshire

 

4 November 1967 – On this day, the Daily Sketch “Monkees” article appeared, only to be denied later in Variety

The band in late 1967. Photo: Paul Brett

4 November 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire

8 November 1967 – The band records Paul Petts’ “What’s It Like Down There?” at Tony Pike Music Ltd studios in Putney.

9 November 1967 – The musicians record Paul Brett and Paul Petts’ “Queen Victoria” at Tony Pike Music Ltd studios in Putney. Both tracks are shelved.

10 November 1967 – Staircase, Soho, central London

11 November 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Blue Magnum

14 November 1967 – Dollar Disco, Slough, Berkshire

15 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News) Missing from Del Paramor’s gigs so may have been cancelled

16 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, central London (with either The Syn or Love Affair)

17 November 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Pink Floyd, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Ivan’s Jaguars, The JB’s, The Peighton Checks, Roger Bloom’s Hammer, The Roll Movement, The Screen and The Syndicate (Yorkshire Evening Post)

18 November 1967 – St Paul’s College, Shaftesbury Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

22 November 1967 – Dundee University, Dundee, Scotland

23 November 1967 – String O’ Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Yorkshire Evening Post)

25 November 1967 – Castle Ballroom, Ryde, Isle of Wight

28 November 1967 – Racing Drivers Ball, Savoy Hotel, Strand, London

1 December 1967 – North West Polytechnic, Royal Hotel, Woburn Place, London with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band and Fleetwood Mac

2 December 1967 – Witham (possibly Public Hall), Essex

3-4 December 1967 – String O’Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire

5 December 1967 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

8 December 1967 – Shooters Hill Grammar School, Shooters Hill, SE10, near Greenwich, London

9 December 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London

10 December 1967 – RAF Witton, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (held at Frank Freeman’s)

15 December 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall

Photo: Richard Goddard. Bearing in mind the Cornish gig below, this booking seems unlikely and is not in Del Paramor’s gig list

16 December 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Future Impression (billed as Dave Warren Monday Band)

18-20 December 1967 – Horseshoe Club, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

22 December 1967 – Jason’s Club, Barnstaple, Devon

23 December 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Friction

24 December 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent

29 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey

30 December 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire

31 December 1967 – Blaises, Kensington, west London

Paul Brett left early in the new year. He joined Tintern Abbey and later led his own group, Paul Brett’s Sage after playing with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Velvet Opera and Fire. Tony Ollard joined after working with The Creation (he’d replaced Eddie Phillips).

The new line up now comprised:

Warren Davis – lead vocals

Tony Ollard – lead guitar

Keith Beck – Hammond organ

Martin Grice – tenor saxophone

Del Paramor – tenor saxophone

Paul Petts – bass

Peter Mole – drums

4 January 1968 – Warwick Hall, Kimpton Road, southeast London

5 January 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

6 January 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

6 January 1968 – String of Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire

7-8 January 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, central London

9 January 1968 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire

9 January 1968 – Sybillas, Swallow Street, central London

11 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

13 January 1968 – College of Technology, Brighton, West Sussex

16 January 1968 – The new line up returns to Tony Pike’s Putney studio and record another Paul Petts song, “Thinkin’ About Tomorrow” and Warren Davis’ “Frances”. Both tracks are shelved.

17 January 1968 – Church Hall, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

18 January 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset (Western Gazette)

19 January 1968 – Bristol, Avon (gig was cancelled)

20 January 1968 – YMCA, Gloucester, Gloucestershire with Here, There & Everywhere

25 January 1968 – Audition for BBC, central London

27 January 1968 – White Tiles, Swindon, Wiltshire

30 January 1968 – The Blue, Rotherhithe, southeast London

Clockwise from top left: Peter Mole, Martin Grice, Warren Davis, Paul Brett, Del Paramor, Paul Petts and Keith Beck. Photo: Paul Brett

1 February 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

3 February 1968 – RAF Waddington, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

4-5 February 1968 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands (also gig at Mercer’s Arms, Coventry on 5 February)

9 February 1968 – Big C, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News) Missing from Del Paramor’s gig list so may have been cancelled

10 February 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with The Block

13-28 February 1968 – Hotel Pino, Turin, Italy

 

1-17 March 1968 – Blow Up Club, Munich, West Germany

With the German dates completed, Martin Grice and Keith Beck returned to Turin and joined The Patrick Sansom Set.

Back in the UK in March 1968, the remaining members rehearsed new baritone sax player Roger Davis and debuted at Klooks Kleek in West Hampstead on 21 March 1968.

18 March 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (billed as Warren Davis The Monday Band) This gig was billed but did not happen

21 March 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (new line-up’s debut)

Gig was cancelled

28 March 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with Emotion (Western Gazette) Del Paramor says that this gig was cancelled

However, there was a split in the band’s ranks at this point with Warren Davis, Del Paramor and Roger Davis linking up with the group Still Life to form a new version of The Warren Davis Monday Band. Tony Ollard, Paul Petts and Pete Mole split to work on other projects. Ollard (see comments) moved to Italy.

Davis, Paramor and Davis had seen Still Life at the Marquee on 25 March 1968 and were impressed.

The new formation comprised:

Warren Davis – lead vocals

Stuart Cowell – guitar/lead vocals

Tom Tierney – guitar

Con Byrne – bass

Ron Reynolds – Hammond organ

Del Paramor – tenor saxophone

Roger Davis – baritone saxophone

Jim Toomey – drums

The new line-up recorded the track “No 9 Putney Bus” for what they hoped would be a TV series.

30 March 1968 – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

31 March 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

 

3 April 1968 – Blaises, Kensington, west London

5 April 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Barnstaple, Devon

6 April 1968 – Tardebigge, Redditch, Worcestershire (venue unknown)

19 April 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Del Paramor says David Essex turned up to see him at the gig which was a disaster)

20 April 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex (billed as Still Life)

24 April 1968 – Blaises, Kensington, west London

26 April-2 May 1968 – Rose Club, Hannover, West Germany

4 May 1968 – Tofts, Folkestone, Kent

7 May 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Del Paramor and Roger Davis told they were sacked)

9 May 1968 – Quay Club, Exeter, Devon

10 May 1968 – Scottish Club Discotheque, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

11 May 1968 – Cirencester, Gloucestershire (possibly Stax Club)

14 May 1968 – Sybillas, Swallow Street, central London

15 May 1968 – Hampstead Country Club, north London

Del Paramor and Roger Davis left after this gig. Paramor joined Mr Mo’s Messengers, who morphed into Sonority, where he worked with Peter Mole.

20 May 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Fish-Hook (billed as Warren Davis Band)

21 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

23 May 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

26 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

28 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

29 May 1968 – Hampstead Country Club, north London

1 June 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with C G Morris and The Reactions

3 June 1968 – Whisky A Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

Guitarist Tom Tierney left around now. Warren Davis and Con Byrne wrote “The Painter”, which Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera record.

Two other tracks credited to Byrne-Davis: “Fire Fly” and “Deed I Do” were cut as acetates.

At some point, possibly with this final formation, the band cut two tracks at IBC Sound Recording Studios in Portland Place: “Nothing Is Sweeter Than Lovin’ You” and “Muddy Water”.

15 June 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex

29-30 June 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes (Saturday) and The Provokers (Sunday)

By mid-July 1968 the band’s line-up comprised:

Warren Davis – lead vocals

Stuart Cowell – lead guitar/vocals

Ron Reynolds – Hammond organ

Con Byrne – bass

Jim Toomey – drums

Judging by a gig in Switzerland in mid-September (see comments), the band may have played some European dates around this time.

One of the band’s final gigs on 19 September 1968

19 September 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

The musicians, however, went their separate ways by late September 1968. Cowell and Toomey would form a new band with Jerome Arnold from Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band and later put together Titus Groan.

Warren Davis (see comments) audition for The Foundations but was not successful. In 1971 he co-wrote both sides of a single with Byrne for the band Mighty Dodos, which was released on Spark.

Huge thanks to Del Paramor for the gigs listings from July 1967-May 1968. Thanks to Del, Bruce Usherwood, Paul Brett and Stuart Cowell for details. Melody Maker also provided gigs for the Upper Cut, Forest Gate, London.  I also used a number of regional newspapers for gigs. I will be writing a more detailed article on the band and would welcome hearing from other former members. 

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.

Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement

Back row, left to right: Chris Palmer, Gary Laub and Peter Vernon-Kell. Front: Fedon Tilberis
Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement, 1965. Back row, left to right: Chris Palmer, Gary Laub and Peter Vernon-Kell. Front: Fedon Tilberis

In August 1965, an obscure R&B outfit named Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement signalled its arrival on the London scene with an impressive rendition of The Velvelettes’ Motown classic “Really Saying Something” (later a sizeable UK hit for Bananarama) and then seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.

Then, almost two years later, a band calling itself Hamilton & The Movement descended on the airwaves with the infectious soul-rocker, “I’m Not the Marrying Kind”, a Bill Wyman penned and produced number, infused with punchy horn lines, funky drums and some groovy Hammond organ fills. Could this really be the same band and, if so, why such a long radio silence?

The answer to that question is both a yes and a no. While both outfits were fronted by a singer called Gary Hamilton, they were in fact two entirely different groups, albeit each with fascinating histories. To understand how these two bands became entwined, it’s important to go back to the early Sixties and the man who kick-started ‘the movement’, so to speak – Gary Hamilton.

The son of an English mother and American father, Gary Hamilton was in fact a certain Gary Laub, who grew up in London’s Marble Arch and St John’s Wood areas.

In 1962, Laub formed his first (unnamed) group with a school friend and lead guitarist named Graham who lived opposite Lords cricket ground. Soon after, they were joined by bass player Chris Palmer, rhythm guitarist Ian Hunt and (finally) drummer Fedon Tilberis, who all attended Haverstock School.

“How Chris and Ian met Gary I don’t know,” says Tilberis. “I joined a little later but Graham was still in the band and left soon after. We enlisted a replacement lead guitarist named Mike Allen and emerged as a five-piece named The Moondogs. The name was [Gary’s father] Mr Laub’s idea before we auditioned at the famous Two Is coffee bar.”

Fast forward to spring 1965 and Laub, Palmer and Tilberis had to reshuffle the pack when Allen and Hunt moved on. Through a friend of Tilberis, they were introduced to two older guitarists – Costas and Bernie – and started gigging as Cell Block 5.

Cell Block Five“Costas was an ex-pro who had played US bases in Germany; he was a men’s tailor by trade. Bernie was from Rochdale. They were then in their late Twenties,” remembers Tilberis.

“We practised in the cellar of a scrap shop in south London that they knew. They did a three-nighter with us in a Greek Street cellar club called Les Cousins that I hustled but Bernie, not feeling very happy, left on the last night after the gig. Costas stayed on for a London suburb gig. They were only with us for about seven or eight weeks.”

Coining a new name, The Reaction, Tilberis hit the jackpot when he stumbled across Rayrik Studio owners Rick Minas and Bruce Rea, who offered up their Chalk Farm studio as a practice room. In return, the outfit would play free on any demo recording sessions when required.

“As it turned out, this was a great deal for us as we never had to record anything there other than our audition to clinch the agreement and practised for free,” continues the drummer.

Abetted by guitar legend Mick Green, The Reaction duly auditioned and Minas was bowled over by the performance.

“Chris and I had auditioned Mick at Chris’ place in Kilburn shortly before the Rayrik audition and we were both very impressed,” remembers Tilberis.

“Although Mick didn’t commit himself, he was interested in doing the Rayrik session, maybe hoping for some recording session gigs. I can’t remember what the number was that we recorded or if Gary was even there, but do remember listening to the backing take after and Mick’s comment. He said that it was a good clean recording and that you could build on it. Rick and Bruce agreed.”

Peter Vernon-Kell (front) with The Macabre outside the Ealing Club. Photo: Peter Vernon-Kell

However, when Mick Green opted to return to The Dakotas, with whom he had been playing with after leaving Johnny Kidd & The Pirates the previous year, Peter Vernon-Kell, a member of Goldhawk Social Club and Ealing Club regulars, The Macabre assumed guitar duties. Incidentally, Vernon-Kell had also been a brief member of The Detours, a forerunner of The Who.

“Both Mick Green and Peter Vernon-Kell came to us via a [Melody Maker] ad in that order. We did see other guitarists but finally settled for Peter after Mick moved on to greener pastures [excuse the pun],” explains Tilberis.

“Peter shared our new musical orientation and attitude, and as far as we were concerned, he fitted the bill. I then arranged our first practice at Rayrik.”

Prior to Vernon-Kell’s addition to the group’s ranks, Minas and Rea had introduced impresario Robert Stigwood, and the Australian subsequently offered Gary Laub a recording deal and put the band on his agency books.

Stigwood insisted that “Really Saying Something” should be the ‘A’ side while Rick Minas and his song-writing partner Mike Banwell offered up “I Won’t See You Tonight” for the flipside.

Before cutting both tracks at a demo session at Regent Sound in Denmark Street, Vernon-Kell coined a new name; The Reaction sounding too similar to The Action, The Who’s regular Tuesday night opener at the Marquee.

“He came up with The Hamilton Movement [in honour of Macabre guitarist Ed Hamilton] in the pub before the session [and] we thought it was great,” remembers Tilberis, who adds that Gary Laub, although at first not so keen, adopted ‘Hamilton’ as a stage name.

Having booked Olympic Sound (then situated in Baker Street) for the final recordings (and unbeknownst to the musicians), Stigwood augmented the band with Graham Bond on piano.

“We were aware who Graham was and were pleased to have him on board for the session,” says Tilberis.

According to the drummer, the tracks required only a few takes per playback and for the lead/backing vocals. Released in August 1965, the single entered the Radio Caroline charts at number 65 on 23 October and peaked at number 53 the following week.

However, the musicians soon realised that any talk of ‘band democracy’ was just that. Not only did the single list the outfit as Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement but Stigwood started promoting them as such.

“Only Gary was allowed to perform on Ready Steady Go using our playback, though we were allowed to attend the show,” explains Tilberis.

Interestingly, as future Hamilton Movement member Mel Wayne recalls, Stigwood insisted on the same conditions with another of his charges, The All-Nite Workers, who were backing Indian singer Simon Scott around the same time.

“Simon mimed to our backing track [on Ready Steady Go] while we had to stand on the balcony with the audience,” says the sax player. “It must have been a Stigwood thing.”

Aired on 22 October 1965, Gary Hamilton appeared on the popular British TV show alongside The Animals, The Searchers, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Rolling Stones, which may have been where the singer linked up with Bill Wyman.

By then, the group had started to pick up consistent live work, kicking off with a memorable gig at Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff on 30 August with The Who, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Easybeats (not the Australian outfit), which had been arranged by the Stigwood/Lambert-Stamp team.

“It looked like a sports hall with an enormous stage at one end. We went up the day before and slept in the van and hung about till early next afternoon to unload our gear,” says Tilberis.

“Townsend was also there early and limbering up in The Who’s dressing room. As our Pete knew him, he went to say ‘allo’ and introduce his new mates… [Townsend] asked Pete if he could borrow his Fender amp for the gig. Pete was more than wary, after all he didn’t want his amp wrecked so Townsend promised to only demolish his Marshall gear.

“Keith Moon and Tony Banks, drummer of The Merseybeats, were looning around and generally getting on everybody’s nerves, especially Entwistle’s as Moon had donned his bass and was running up and down the stage strumming it like a maniac. I thought John was going to thump him.”

More provincial gigs followed, not to mention the obligatory Mod clubs in London, including the El Partido in Lewisham where the outfit played alongside The Duke Lee Sounds on 30 October 1965.

However, in mid-late January 1966, the Stigwood/Lambert & Stamp team secured a spot for the band on a three-day, two shows a day package tour, once again opening for Vernon-Kell’s former band mates, The Who, and also featuring Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Fortunes.

“Bob [Stigwood] arranged for us to practise at the Granada TV rehearsal studios at the Oval about a week beforehand,” remembers Tilberis. “He and Lambert came to oversee the rep and offer presentation tips for our opening spot on the show.”

The tour debut duly took place at the Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park on 4 February and was followed by a gig at the Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea the next day, culminating with a final engagement on 6 February at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

The following month, on 11-12 March, the musicians found themselves on the campus of Essex University in Colchester where a number of bands, including the up and coming Pink Floyd were entertaining the students.

Then in April, Stigwood linked up with Chris Blackwell to promote a second package tour headlined by The Who, this time with Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement joining the likes of The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and (most notably) Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System (aka New Generation) (who featured musicians that would form part of the soon-to-be Hamilton Movement).

The four-day tour, with two shows a day, kicked off at the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton on 14 April. After weaving its way on to Fairfield Halls in Croydon, then the Odeon in Watford, the tour wound up at the Regal Theatre in Edmonton.

“Gary’s mum called me on Saturday, 16 April in the afternoon asking if we would do the Watford gig that evening,” says the drummer. “Although we all had other plans I rounded up Pete and Chris and we did that gig.”

Stigwood then proposed a second single and once again engaged Graham Bond on piano. The sessions included a stab at The Who’s “A Legal Matter” as the ‘B’ side, which was cut as an instrumental track. However, the recording of the ‘A’ side did not go well, as Tilberis recalls.

“We weren’t raving about the number. Stigwood arranged a practice room and gave us a single to learn but I can’t remember what it was called. I had a trouble with the drum part on the session.

“Bob was well peeved but let us play one of our tunes that we were working on, but there was no melody line or title at that stage and he didn’t like it. The Olympic session was a blow out and Bob gave us the thumbs down, we were out and the gig flow stopped.”

As Tilberis points out, there was still no signed contract, and the singer was looking out for himself. “Gary’s dad [Harry] being a shrewd businessman and used to dealing with contracts and small print had deleted a hefty portion of the contract!”

Chris Palmer and Fedon Tilberis soon left for Jimmy & The Rackets, a British beat group with hit parade successes in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Joining long-standing frontman, Jimmy Duncombe and guitarist Mike Bell, Tilberis remained with the Swiss-based outfit until spring 1968 while Palmer stayed on for another year.

The pair appeared on a cache of European-only released singles by The Rackets, kicking off with a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “C’mon Everybody” backed by a cover version of George Harrison’s “I Want To Tell You”.

The pair ended up setting up home in Switzerland where, in 1970, The Chris Palmer Band recorded the ultra-rare solo LP Fingertips, featuring originals from all the band members.

Palmer later hit pay day in 1980 when Surface Noise topped the UK dance music chart with a cover of his song, “The Scratch”. Tilberis re-joined The Rackets and played with local bands, including Swiss Sixties specialists, The Countdowns.

Vernon-Kell meanwhile subsequently moved into production. Setting up PVK Records, he managed Peter Green and produced a string of his late 1970s and early 1980s albums. More recently, he’s become an executive producer for films and currently runs Cabana Films Ltd.

But Gary Hamilton wasn’t finished with The Hamilton Movement. In late July/early August 1966, he linked up with Jimmy Cliff’s backing band, The New Generation, renaming them The Movement.

Bass player Ron Thomas, who years later struck fame with The Heavy Metal Kids, thinks the link-up came through The New Generation’s keyboard player Mick Fletcher.

“[Mick] was always going down all the clubs around Wardour Street,” says the bass player. “He was always ducking and diving and I thought he just met him [Gary Hamilton] out there one night.”

“Me and Mickie Fletcher were great mates and frequented The Ship in Wardour Street and drank with Gary there quite a bit,” confirms sax player Mel Wayne.

“We were all a bit frustrated the way things were going with Jimmy Cliff because he didn’t have a soul or pop voice, which was the sort of music Chris Blackwell wanted him to do and engaged us for.”

New Generation members Ron Thomas and Mel Wayne, together with fellow sax player Dave Mahoney, had first come together in West London R&B outfit Mike Dee & The Prophets.

Adding Thomas’s school friend Mick Stewart on guitar in mid-1965, they split from Mike Dee and worked as Anglo-Indian singer Simon Scott’s backing group, The All-Nite Workers. Their lone single together was produced by none other than Robert Stigwood!

By late 1965, former Paramounts drummer Phil Wainman had assumed leadership, and after cutting several singles with Errol Dixon and briefly backing Freddie Mack, Mick Stewart jumped ship to join Johnny Kidd & The ‘New’ Pirates.

Having previously introduced Mick Fletcher from The Epitaph Soul Band, guitarist Tony Sinclair (aka Tony St. Clair) completed the new formation, now gigging as The Sound System.

Through a chance meeting with Chris Blackwell, the sextet supported his roster of artists – Jackie Edwards, Millie, Owen Grey and most notably Jimmy Cliff. Trumpet player John Droy joined just before the Gary Hamilton pairing.

Clockwise from front: Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher, Gary Laub, Tony Sinclair, Mel Wayne, Dave Mahoney and Phil Wainman
Clockwise from front: Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher, Gary Laub, Tony Sinclair, Mel Wayne, Dave Mahoney and Phil Wainman

The expanded group began rehearsing at London’s Colony Club where Gary’s father was employed; US film star George Raft worked as its casino director and briefly financed the outfit. Mel Wayne adds that the group also rehearsed at Caesars Palace in Dunstable and Ken Collier’s London club.

When John Droy bailed after a short nationwide tour with The Walker Brothers in mid-August to join The Quotations, The Movement expanded its line-up, bringing in trumpet players – Mike Bailey, Alan Ellis and Patrick Higgs, the latter from Elton John’s group, Bluesology around December. (Ed: One of the unsuccessful musicians to audition was trumpet player Verdi Stewart, who would be instrumental in landing Mel Wayne future work with Carl Douglas.)

“We had a ten-piece band; a five-piece brass section; three trumpets. When I think of it now, we were all on a wage,” recalls Thomas.

Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement extended line upThat November, Gary Hamilton landed a recording deal with CBS and the musicians entered IBC Studios to work with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman in the producer’s chair.

“That was something that [Gary’s father] Mr Laub put together. He said, ‘We’ve got a song for you’,” remembers Phil Wainman, who adds that the group nailed both sides in a couple of takes.

“He [Bill Wyman] just let us get on with it. The band was so good. We’d rehearsed it prior to the studio and… in three hours I think we were done, recorded and mixed.”

“I’m Not The Marrying Kind” c/w “My Love Belongs To You” was duly released on 10 February 1967 and hit single written all over it.

However, despite having supported The Who at Leeds University on 21 January and then making a notable appearance at the Saville Theatre opening for Chuck Berry and Del Shannon on 19 February, the single’s commercial failure prompted the backers to drastically reduce the group’s bookings.

Phil Wainman was the first to abandon ship for The Overlanders and then Jack Hammer, author of “Great Balls of Fire”.

Hamilton and The Movement Fab November 1966After co-penning The Yardbirds’ cover “Little Games” and working with The Quotations, Wainman became a top session player and then a successful producer with Sweet and Boomtown Rats, among his credits.

“As a producer I did so much better than as a musician,” says Wainman. “That’s where I did well. I probably sold about 300 million records.”

James Smith, fresh from an audition with The New Pirates, reforming after Johnny Kidd’s death, assumed the drum stool.

“I got a call from Ron Thomas,” remembers the newcomer. “He said Mick Stewart had given him my number and would I be interested in auditioning? I got the gig, though it was a hard act to follow. Phil was one of the best drummers around at the time.”

Smith remembers the band finding plenty of work on the university circuit that spring, including Keele, Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham.

In the first week of April, Melody Maker reported that the group had whittled down from a 10 piece to a seven piece. Mel Wayne left to join Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede and two other horn players also departed, most likely including Pat Higgs.

On 27 May, Hamilton & The Movement joined Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Action, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Swinging Blue Jeans to entertain the students at Oxford’s Hertford Balls.

The drummer also says that The Hamilton Movement opened for US soul act Sam and Bill several times (most notably at the Boston Gliderdrome on 15 July) before further changes ensued during August and October 1967.

Sam and Bill, Record Mirror

“The brass section dropped out and this kind of triggered a fairly rapid exodus… There were no gigs for a while so Tony, Mick and Ron found other work,” says the drummer.

While Mick Fletcher failed to reunite with Mel Wayne in Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (the job went to Rod Mayall), he next appears to have played with The Rifle (with guitarist Del Grace from Carl Douglas’ band and singer Malcolm Magaron) and then The Amboy Dukes in late 1969 for a short tour into mid-1970.

Tony Sinclair briefly played with Lace before joining Freddie Mack’s band in early 1968. The soul outfit split from the former boxer in 1969 and worked with Dave Hadfield at his studio on the Old Kent Road, providing backing tracks for various artists on Hadfield’s Revolution label.

Ron Thomas meanwhile got a job with guitarist Pip Williams’s band, The House of Orange, backing US soul act, The Fantastics.

“They were right in the middle of a tour backing Garnet Mimms,” he recalls. “They were a house band working with Roy Tempest. They just phoned me up. Their bass player had got slung out in the middle of the tour and they had a gig that night.”

With ‘The Movement’ on hold, James Smith had also started to explore other avenues and even had an offer on the table when Gary Hamilton convinced him to hang on.

“Gary came up with Mick Stewart and Tony Savva and said he wanted to change the style and format going with a three-piece backing band, so I decided to stay,” says the drummer.

Bass player Tony Savva was best known for his work with A Wild Uncertainty, the group that featured Eddie Hardin, who had replaced Stevie Winwood in The Spencer Davis Group that spring.

Savva is uncertain how the link-up with Hamilton came about but has some photos with A Wild Uncertainty drummer Gordon Barton and lead guitarist Peter Tidmarsh in them, which offers a clue.

“Gary and I were behind the camera,” he explains. “How and why I don’t know but obviously we were backing Gary as vocalist. Maybe Gordon and Peter split and Mick [Stewart] and Jimmy [Smith] came in.”

Mick Stewart, however, can throw more light on this transition period. “I believe that I played with Tony Savva for a little while because of something to do with Don Arden’s son David being a would-be-singer at the time,” says the guitarist.

“The intro to that was in a way due to Johnny Kidd. Over the years, he was in fact booked quite a bit by Don Arden’s agency and after he died, I believe that someone at Arden’s company suggested I play guitar in this back-up band. Tony was already in the line-up. At the end of the day, however, David Arden although he was a really great guy to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band with, he was not really a singer at all.”

Gary Hamilton 25 November 1967 Record Mirror

With the new version finding its feet, Gary Hamilton returned to the studios with session musicians to cut a solo single. Produced by Tony Meehan and penned by Mike D’Abo, “Let the Music Play”, backed by the self-penned “Don’t Ask”, was released by Decca on 12 November 1967 but flopped. A dramatic, big band production, “Let the Music Play” appears on Colour Me Pop, Volume Three and Fading Yellow Volume 9: The Other Side of Life.

During early November 1967,  Gary Hamilton expanded the line-up by bringing in organist Terry Goldberg, who had previously played with The Mark Leeman Five and would go onto Tintern Abbey.

Melody Maker, 11 November 1967

The five-piece gigged prolifically over the next four months, even opening for Ike & Tina Turner and others at the Boston Gliderdrome on 20 April 1968. Two days later, the musicians played possibly their final show at the 100 Club on Oxford Street before the inevitable split.

During 1968, Gary Hamilton recorded a one-track acetate “Carry The Can“, which was never released. The tracks were recorded with studio musicians and not the final version of The Hamilton Movement.

Mick Stewart immediately joined James Royal and participated in a prestigious concert tour alongside Johnny Cash, June Carter and Carl Perkins.  During 1969-1970, he recorded three singles with Sweet before later moving to the United States in the late 1970s, where he works in Los Angeles and Nashville as a successful record producer and also owns a music publishing company and a recording studio.

Tony Savva meanwhile subsequently worked with Lionel Bart and Samuel Prody among others and currently lives in Cyprus. James Smith, who later recorded with Aquila, played with a revamped Nashville Teens before reuniting with Ron Thomas in The House of Orange.

“[Ron] said The Fantastics were coming back to the UK for a tour and he and Pip Williams were getting a backing band together and looking for a drummer and organist. I’d seen Ron and Pip previously so I didn’t need asking twice.”

As for Gary Hamilton, he joined the London production of Hair before resuming his solo career with a lone single for CBS and gigging briefly with Cozy Powell’s band, Big Bertha. Produced by Bernard Lee, the self-penned “Easy Rider” stalled when it was released on 5 December 1969.

Undeterred, he returned to Polydor for a cover of Ed Welch’s the “Monkey Song”, produced by Peter Knight Jr and arranged by John Fiddy. Released on 20 November 1970, the single flopped and Hamilton moved into movie acting; the eagle-eyed can catch him in the cult horror flick, Tower of Evil.

Thanks to Fedon Tilberis, Peter Vernon-Kell, Chris Palmer, Ron Thomas, Phil Wainman, Mel Wayne, James Smith, Mick Stewart and Tony Savva

To add information and make corrections, email: Warchive@aol.com

A version of this article appears in Ugly Things magazine.

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.

Notable gigs (see comments section for sources):

 

Gary Hamilton (vocals)

Peter Vernon-Kell (guitar)

Chris Palmer (bass)

Fedon Tilberis (drums)

30 August 1965 – Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales with The Who, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Easybeats

18 September 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester

 

16 October 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City

30 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, south east London with The Duke Lee Sounds and The Loose Ends

13 November 1965 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks

27 November 1965 – Dungeon, Nottingham

4 December 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Profile

24 December 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Unit 4+2 and The Nite-Sect

 

4 January 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

1 February 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants

4 February 1966 – Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, north London with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

5 February 1966 – Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

6 February 1966 – Empire Theatre, Liverpool with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

11 February 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London with The Who and The Mike Rabin Group

18 February 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Circuit Five

19 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Ultimate

 

11-12 March 1966 –  Essex University, Colchester, Essex with Pink Floyd and others

18 March 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham with Carl Pagan & The Heathens

19 March 1966 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with The Spectrum

11 April 1966 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Moody Blues and Dave & The Strollers

14 April 1966 –  Gaumont Theatre, Southampton, Hants with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

15 April 1966 – Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

16 April 1966 – Odeon, Watford, Herts with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

17 April 1966 – Regal Theatre, Edmonton, north London with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

21 May 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hants with The Nuetrons

The original band split around June 1966 and Gary Hamilton put together a new version in late July

Gary Hamilton (vocals)

Tony Sinclair (aka St Clair) (guitar)

Ron Thomas (bass)

Mick Fletcher (keyboards)

Mel Wayne (sax)

Dave Mahoney (sax)

John Droy (trumpet)

Phil Wainman (drums)

11-13 August 1966 – Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Kinks, The Walker Brothers, The Quotations, The Creation, The Wishful Thinking, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch and The Moody Blues

14 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Anzacs

John Droy left soon after the tour to join The Quotations

26 August 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

 

3 September 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Mystery Men

9 September 1966 – Benn Memorial Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire with The Roaring 60s and The Imagination (Rugby Advertiser)

18 September 1966 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with The Barry Lee Show

24 September 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Dave Berry & The Cruisers

29 September 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hampshire

1 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Thoughts

16 October 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Sabres (the band replaced MI5)

Three trumpets players joined around December – Mike Bailey, Alan Ellis and Pat Higgs

 

21 January 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Who

 

19 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Chuck Berry, The Canadians and Del Shannon

26 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Chuck Berry, The Candians and Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

 

11 March 1967 – Birdcage, Portsmouth, Hants (cancelled)

Phil Wainman left around now and Jim Smith joined on drums

18 March 1967

18 March 1967 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey with The Easybeats

Around early April, Mel Wayne and two trumpet players left, most likely including Pat Higgs. The band carried on as a seven-piece with two horn players.

6 May 1967 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn, Wales with The Quotations and The Raynes (billed as Hamilton)

27 May 1967 – Hereford Balls, Oxford with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Action, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Swinging Blue Jeans

10 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Collection and The Gas Company

11 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Craig King & The Midnight Train

17 June 1967 – Bal Tabarin, Downham, south east London with supporting groups

2 July 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Four Degrees West

6 July 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (billed as Hamilton & The Quotations but assuming it is the same band)

The group backed US soul singers Sam & Bill on a UK tour. The pair arrived on 12 July so it’s safe to assume the gigs listed below featured Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement

12 July 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts with Sam & Bill (most likely debut)

13 July 1967 – Sybilla’s, Swallow Street, Mayfair, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

15 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sam & Bill, The Skatalites and The Reasons

16 July 1967 – Speakeasy, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

21 July 1967 – Big ‘C’, Farnborough, Hants with Sam & Bill

21 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

22 July 1967 – New All-Star Club, Liverpool Street, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

23 July 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Sam and Bill

23 July 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London (billed as Sam & Bill)

28 July 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Sam & Bill plus One In A Million and That Feeling

29 July 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with Sam & Bill and The Trap

30 July 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Sam & Bill and The Gas Company

13 August 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (says they were Sam and Bill’s backing group)

23 August 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts

25 August 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset

Dave Mahoney and the last trumpet player departed around now

2 September 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire

Sam & Bill played Floral Hall in Southport on 9 September 1967, but it’s unlikely they were support band this time.

15 September 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire

16 September 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

23 September 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford with The Scotch of St James

30 September 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Jigsaw and Dave Jay

Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher and Tony Sinclair all left during October and the band was put on hold as Gary Hamilton recruited new players

Gary Hamilton (vocals)

Mick Stewart (guitar)

Tony Savva (bass)

Jim Smith (drums)

21 October 1967 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton

Terry Goldberg joined on keyboards 

11 November 1967 – Brackley Town Hall, Brackley, Northamptonshire (possibly Goldberg’s debut)

8 December 1967 – City University, central London with The Soft Machine and Robert Hirst & The Big Taste

 

6 January 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Styx and Just Us

3 February 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

9 February 1968 – Tiger’s Head, Catford, south east London (billed as Hamilton’s Movements)

25 February 1968 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with Jay Jones (billed as The Gary Hamilton Movement)

26 February 1968 – Primrose Hill Working Men’s Club, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (billed as The Gary Hamilton Movement)

9 March 1968 – Clouds, Derby (says it’s an eight-piece soul band)

15 April 1968 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Koobas and Detroit Soul Sound

20 April 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincs with the Ike & Tina Turner Show, The Ikettes, The Artists and The Train Set

22 April 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (possibly the final gig)

The Cromwellian, 3 Cromwell Road, South Kensington

Located at 3 Cromwell Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, SW7, the Cromwellian Club was a notable London rock venue that was opened in late 1964 by entrepreneur Tony Mitchell and part owned and managed by Bob Archer, who later established the Pantiles club in Bagshot, Surrey. The club’s opening was reported in The Stage in its 8 October 1964 issue.

Brian Auger who played here with The Trinity claims that the Cromwellian is where Jimi Hendrix first jammed with his band after arriving in London in late September 1966, although others point to the Scotch of St James.

At its height in 1966-1967, it also hosted numerous jam sessions, featuring the likes of Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry, Eric Burdon and Eric Clapton among others.

Like other exclusive clubs like Blaises and the Scotch of St James, the entrance fee was expensive and therefore catered less for music fans and more for the celebrities of the day and wealthy clientele.

The Cromwellian was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue and posters of advertised gigs as well as band photos (all credited accordingly).

1965

Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1965-1966:

Singer Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says that James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set played there throughout this period.

Tony Richard who drummed and sang with The Fetish Crowd says that his group performed there during 1965-1966.

Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Just Four, which became The Guests, played at the venue in 1965-1966.

Guitarist/singer Stuart Cowell says he was working with Ralph Denyer’s Rockhouse Band when they performed at the Cromwellian in late 1965 before he left to join Gass.

Ray Lovegrove, who DJ’d at the venue, remembers seeing Stevie Wonder and also The Groundhogs at the club during 1965 when he was there. However, the Stevie Wonder gig could have been 26 January 1966 (see below).

The following list for 1965 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

Photo: Melody Maker

1 April 1965 (Thursday) – The Drifters (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker, 10 April 1965

5 June 1965 (Saturday) – The Soul Sisters (Melody Maker)

8 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Donnie Elbert (Melody Maker)

15 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Solomon Burke (Melody Maker)

23 June 1965 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Melody Maker)

Photo; Melody Maker

13 July 1965 (Tuesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

23 July 1965 (Friday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)

 

6 August 1965 (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

14 August 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

30 August 1965 (Monday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Martyn Hanson’s Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice book)

According to Hanson’s book, this was keyboard player Terry Goldberg’s final gig with Mark Leeman’s band.

 

8 September 1965 (Wednesday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

11 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 September 1965 (Wednesday) – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

16 September 1965 (Thursday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

23 September 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but most of the 1965 gigs below are Thursdays.

25 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

 

1 October 1965 (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

7 October 1965 (Thursday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

London Life magazine for the week 9-15 October, and for subsequent issues running to December 1966 when it closed, notes that several groups played each week.

20 October 1965 (Wednesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

28 October 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

Photo: West Surrey Advertiser

Boz & The Boz People played at the Cromwellian sometime before 4 November, according to the West Surrey Advertiser (see pic)

 

4 November 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

11 November 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

 

2 December 1965 (Thursday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Record Mirror)

9 December 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

10 December 1965 (Friday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

13 December 1965 (Monday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

14 December 1965 (Tuesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)

15 December 1965 (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Record Mirror)

16 December 1965 (Thursday) – Bluesology (Melody Maker)

Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.

Photo: Record Mirror

20 December 1965 (Monday) – Joe Tex (Record Mirror)

1966

Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1966:

Keyboard player Stan Marut, who worked with Julian Covey & The Machine from late 1965-mid-1966 says the group had a regular Saturday night residency at the club in early 1966 (and also possibly late 1965 when John McVie was briefly a member when Jack Bruce filled his spot in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers). He remembers Sands were playing at the venue around the same time.

According to Chris Groom’s excellent book “Rockin’ and Around Croydon”, Croydon group The Kingpins played at the Cromwellian in early 1966.

Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Guests played at the venue during 1966 (possibly with The Shevelles).

Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says The James Royal Set played at the club this year.

Guitarist Frank Torpey, who later became an original member of The Sweet, confirms his group The Tribe played at the Cromwellian (most likely this year and possibly also 1967).

Guitarist Jim Cregan says that Blossom Toes performed at the venue (but this might have been 1967).

Ray Brown, who played bass with Jeff Curtis & The Flames from mid-1965 to late 1967 when they became The Kool, says that the band played at the Cromwellian a few times, most likely in 1966 (but also possibly early 1967).

Drummer Rocky Browne confirms that The Summer Set had a weekly residence at the Cromwellian during 1966.

Drummer Tony Richard says The Fetish Crowd played at the club during 1966.

The following list for 1966 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

 

4 January 1966 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 January 1966 (Tuesday) – Pattie La Belle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.

13 January 1966 (Thursday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)

Record Mirror originally billed this show for 19 January.

15 January 1966 (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

19 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror)

Record Mirror also listed this for 31 January so this may not have happened. Dorsey was most likely backed by The Krew featuring sax player Howie Casey. I also have The Sidewinders, so probably shared. They were back the following Wednesday to back Stevie Wonder.

26 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Stevie Wonder (Record Mirror)

Stevie Wonder was backed by The Sidewinders (confirmed by drummer Malcolm Penn).

31 January 1966 (Monday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)

Lee Dorsey was most certainly backed by The Krew.

 

5 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

This was 2-6am on the Sunday morning after a show at the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill on the Saturday night. Chase says The Searchers came in and watched them.

9 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Record Mirror)

16 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Steampacket (website: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html)

Record Mirror lists Rufus Thomas for 16 February. Steampacket did perform at the Cromwellian and it’s possible that Rufus Thomas shared the billing. Rod Stewart co-fronted Steampacket with Long John Baldry and Julie Driscoll.

19 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)

25 February 1966 (Friday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)

 

2 March 1966 (Wednesday) – Solomon Burke (Record Mirror)

3 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)

Future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were members.

5 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

10 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)

12 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

19 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

Cromwellian, London, March 1966. Photo: Melody Maker

26 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (Melody Maker)

 

1 April 1966 (Friday) – The Sidewinders (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

 

5 May 1966 (Thursday) – Betty Everett (Record Mirror)

Christopher Hjort’s excellent book “Strange Brew: Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970” notes that Eric Clapton attended the Cromwellian on 9 May after a gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

The 9 May marks the inception of SLAGS (Society of Looning Alcoholic Guitarists) whose members include Jeff Beck, Stevie Winwood, Vic Briggs, Pete Townshend, Steve Marriott, Andy Somers, Alan Roskams and Dave Wendels. The members will meet regularly at the Cromwellian.

 

In early June Melody Maker prints a “Guide to Good Raving” which lists the “in” clubs of the London scene. The Cromwellian is featured and the magazine notes that Gary Farr & The T-Bones, The Mark Leeman Five, Dave Anthony’s Moods, The Shevelles, Sands and The Peter B’s (actually The Shotgun Express) have recently played at the venue (performing until 2am).

10 June 1966 (Friday) – Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Five Proud Walkers who play at the Beachcomber Club on 18 June came from the Cromwellian.

According to the Southern Evening Echo (Southampton), The Move, who play the Adam & Eve in Southampton on 12 July, came from the Cromwellian (see above)

According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Cromwellians who play at the Beachcomber Club on 23 July came from the Cromwellian.

Photo: London Life magazine

27 July 1966 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

30 July 1966 (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

 

The Eyes of Blue, who have won Melody Maker’s National Beat Contest, celebrate with a party at the club on 7 August. Eric Clapton, Alan Price, Chris Farlowe and others attend.

According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Coletrane Union, who play at the Britannia Rowing Club on 13 August came from the Cromwellian

According to this Moody Blues site, John Lodge’s band The Question were regulars at the Cromwellian during August/September 1966 before he took up the bass slot in The Moody Blues in October.

31 August 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

20 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)

Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but the gigs in September are Tuesday nights.

21 September 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

27 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)

30 September 1966 (Friday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Jimi Hendrix website)

According to this site, Brian Auger was playing at the Cromwellian on a Friday night and had invited Jimi Hendrix to sit in with his band at this venue earlier in the week. Auger insists that this was the first place that Hendrix jammed with his band.

However, Auger did play at Blaises on Thursday, 29 September and Hendrix did sit in on that occasion, having arrived in the UK on Thursday, 22 September. According to Vic Briggs (and other sources), Hendrix also turned up and jammed with the band at the Scotch of St James on Wednesday, 28 September. 

 

8 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 October 1966 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Cromwellian on 19 October (the alternative location was the Scotch of St James). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream are playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham this evening.

22 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

 

2 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Photo: London Life magazine

16 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

18 November 1966 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 26 November issue, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler and Bill Wyman attended the club on this date.

30 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

According to Bruno Ceriotti, Bluesology (featuring Reg Dwight aka Elton John) played at the Cromwellian regularly during December 1966, which is where Long John Baldry saw them and took them on as his new backing group.

 

7 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

14 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

According to Disc & Music Echo, The Magic Lanterns visited the club the week starting 19 December but it is not clear whether they performed or just attended.

24 December 1966 (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

1967

According to Disc & Music Echo, Ray Hunter and Paul Lincoln, who had previously run The Two I’s Coffee Bar in Soho, co-ran the Cromwellian this year.

Rob Tolchard says his band Sands played the Cromwellian in January where they were spotted by Brian Epstein who hired them for his Saville Theatre show on 5 February. 

Bass player Bruce Usherwood says The Warren Davis Monday Band performed at the venue several times between December 1966 and February 1967 just before they signed with Columbia Records.

The Warren Davis Monday Band’s guitarist Rob Walker concurs and notes that one of the gigs was when the band was called The Boardwalkers.

Disc & Music Echo, 14 January 1967 issue, talks about Georgie Fame’s fiancé Carmen’s 21st birthday fancy dress party, which was held at the venue on 8 January. The guests include Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Georgie Fame.

The following list for 1967 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

17 January 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

28 January 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Del Shannon, Johnny Rivers, Edwin Starr and Dave Davies of The Kinks were guests at the club during the week starting 30 January. 

According to Martyn Hanson’s excellent book Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice, Lee Jackson was part of the house band at the Cromwellian, The House of Usher during February and March 1967.

2 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

6 February 1967 (Monday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)

9 February 1967 (Thursday) – Long John Baldry & Bluesology (Fabulous 208)

11 February 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Bobby King & The Sabres perform from 2am to 6am after playing at the Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London on the Saturday night, so this would probably be the early hours of the Sunday, 12 February.

20 February 1967 (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

23 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

25 February 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

The Good Time Losers had a residency at the club around about now, according to Melody Maker. Disc & Music Echo reported that they were managed by the club. Pretty certain it was a Saturday but needs confirmation.

 

4 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

11 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

18 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

25 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

 

3 April 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

8 April 1967 (Saturday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Disc & Music Echo)

12 April 1967 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Disc & Music Echo)

Disc & Music Echo report that Tom Jones attended. This may have been 5 April so needs confirmation

14 April 1967 (Friday) – Motivation with The James Garnet Soul and Roll Band (Swindon Advertiser) (cancelled)

Motivation (featuring future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre) are advertised to play the venue. Keyboard player Mick Ketley says they did play the Cromwellian. However, sax player Chris Rodger confirms they were in Italy until mid-May before returning home so this didn’t happen.

16 April 1967 (Sunday) – Disc and Music Echo says that The Bee Gees hold a reception at the club today

18 April 1967 (Tuesday) – Bo Diddley with The Canadians (Melody Maker)

The Canadians feature future producer and music executive David Foster on keyboards.

Disc & Music Echo’s 22 April issue says that US actress Jayne Mansfield attended the Cromwellian the previous Tuesday but the date might have been 11 April instead.

Drummer Phil Wainman, who later produced The Sweet and was playing with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers in May 1967, says Jack Hammer played at the club, which would have most likely been this month.

1 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Melody Maker, Fabulous 208 and Disc & Music Echo)

4 May 1967 (Thursday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)

8 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Record Mirror)

Photo: Melody Maker

15 May 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

17 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

22 May 1967 (Monday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

24 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

26 May 1967 (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)

27 May 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)

31 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

 

11 June 1967 (Sunday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

13 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

20 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Irish band Granny’s Intentions played around July 1967

4 July 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Vince Edwards (Fabulous 208)

13 July 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

18 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

29 July 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)

31 July 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

9 August 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 16 September issue, Long John Baldry keeps fit by running up the club’s stairs. Does this imply that he performed here with Bluesology during September?

1968

Guitarist/singer Paul Brett says that he played this venue during 1968, which was probably with Tintern Abbey but could have been with Elmer Gantry and/or Fire.

Drummer Paul Maher says that Jo Jo Gunne performed at the venue (possibly this year and/or 1969).

The following list for 1968 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions.

Judging by the dates below in January and February, it looks like jazz bands played on Mondays.

4 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 4 January.

8 January 1968 (Monday) – Bill Nile’s Delta Jazzmen (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

10 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)

11 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

12 January 1968 (Friday) – Garnet Mimms (Melody Maker)

15 January 1968 (Monday) – The Red Onion Jazz Band (Melody Maker)

17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

18 January 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

19 January 1968 (Friday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

22 January 1968 (Monday) – Ken Colyer’s Jazzmen (Melody Maker)

23 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

24 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

25 January 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker and Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

26 January 1968 (Friday) – Jigsaw (Melody Maker)

29 January 1968 (Monday) – Spencer’s Washboard Kings (Melody Maker)

30 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)

31 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Wee Willie Harris and The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

 

1 February 1968 (Thursday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)

Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 1 February.

2 February 1968 (Friday) – Clyde McPhatter and The Trend (Melody Maker)

5 February 1968 (Monday) – Alex Welsh & His Jazz Band (Melody Maker)

6 February 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

8 February 1968 (Thursday) – Taste (Rory Gallagher’s Fandom site: https://concerts.fandom.com/wiki/Rory_Gallagher)

14 February 1968 (Wednesday) – The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

15 February 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

26 February 1968 (Monday) – Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

4 March 1968 (Monday) – Fleetwood Mac (Melody Maker)

5 March 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 March 1968 (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Melody Maker)

18 March 1968 (Monday) – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

25 March 1968 (Monday) – Champion Jack Dupree (Melody Maker)

26 March 1968 (Tuesday) – Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

 

22 April 1968 (Monday) – The Showstoppers (Melody Maker)

25 April 1968 (Thursday) – Nepenthe and Jigsaw (Melody Maker)

26 April 1968 (Friday) – My Dear Watson (Melody Maker)

29 April 1968 (Monday) – Duster Bennett (Melody Maker)

30 April 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

 

1 May 1968 (Wednesday) – O’Hara’s Playboys (Melody Maker)

2 May 1968 (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

3 May 1968 (Friday) – Duane Eddy with The Quotations (Melody Maker)

6 May 1968 (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

7 May 1968 (Tuesday) – The Jeff Beck Group (Melody Maker)

8 May 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

9 May 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

10 May 1968 (Friday) – Hopscotch (Melody Maker)

11 May 1968 (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Melody Maker)

13 May 1968 (Monday) – The Fantastics (with The House of Orange) (Melody Maker)

14 May 1968 (Tuesday) – The Embers (Melody Maker)

15 May 1968 (Wednesday) – O’ Hara’s Playboys (Melody Maker)

16 May 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

17 May 1968 (Friday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

18 May 1968 (Saturday) – Brass Tacks (Melody Maker)

20 May 1968 (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

21 May 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

22 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 May 1968 (Monday) – Duane Eddy (Melody Maker)

 

3 June 1968 (Monday) – Bill Haley & The Comets (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

14 June 1968 (Friday) – Ruby & The Romantics (Melody Maker)

18 June 1968 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

27 June 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

8 July 1968 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

20 July 1968 (Saturday) – The Mooche (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

2 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

3 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

8 August 1968 (Thursday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

9 August 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

10 August 1968 (Saturday) – The Pathfinders (Melody Maker)

12 August 1968 (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

15 August 1968 (Thursday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

16 August 1968 (Friday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)

17 August 1968 (Saturday) – Alexander Bell & The Flies (Melody Maker)

20 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

22 August 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

23 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

24 August 1968 (Saturday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)

27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

28 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

30 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

31 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

 

6 September 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

Photo: Melody Maker

7 September 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

14 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

16 September 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

17 September 1968 (Tuesday) – Little John & The Shaddocks (Melody Maker)

18 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

19 September 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Melody Maker and Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

21 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

 

19 October 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

 

16 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

21 November 1968 (Thursday) – The Nite People (Melody Maker)

 

5 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

19 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

1969

Sax player Geoff Glover says his band The All Night Workers played at the Cromwellian when Clyde Barrow took over lead vocals from Iain Pitwell, which would have been from early 1969.

Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott says that his band Gass played here during 1969/1970.

The following list for 1969 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

20 January 1969 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

 

8 February 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

 

1 March 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

 

3 November 1969 (Monday) – Sky (Melody Maker)

10 November 1969 (Monday) – She Trinity (Melody Maker)

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.