Tag Archives: Cliff Barton

Alan Price Set gigs 1965-1968

Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

Image may be subject to copyright

Alan Price – Hammond organ/lead vocals

Cliff Barton – bass

Nigel Stanger – saxophone

John Walters – trumpet

Geoff Robinson – drums

After leaving The Animals in early May 1965, Alan Price returns to Newcastle upon Tyne and forms The Alan Price Combo with local friends, including Nigel Stanger, who has just left Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers and Cliff Barton, who recently worked with Julian Covey & The Machine.

New Musical Express lists the line-up in its 16 July 1965 and the group starts playing at the Club A Go Go in Newcastle.

Moving to London, Barton departs and subsequently gains employment with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. Former Krewkats bass player John Bradley fills in before Boots Slade takes over on bass on a permanent basis.

Stanger also leaves and former Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band baritone sax player Clive Burrows joins alongside tenor sax player Steve Gregory. Roy Mills also takes over the drum stool and they become The Alan Price Set.

23 August 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (Wood Green and Southgate Herald) Billed as The Alan Price Combo

 

10 September 1965 – Ricky Tick, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey (David Else’s research) David Else says the band replaced Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

11 September 1965 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Bobby Rio & The Revelles and The Woodlanders (Lincolnshire Standard)

12 September 1965 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book) Billed as The Alan Price Combo

4 September 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

20 September 1965 – Garden of Eden Club, Blackbird Leys Community Centre, Oxford with The Victors (Oxford Mail)

23 September 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, London (Melody Maker)

 

1 October 1965 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Graham Bond Organisation, Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and The Crawdaddies (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book) Billed as The Alan Price Combo

3 October 1965 – Ricky Tick, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey (David Else’s research) 

4 October 1965 – YOR Club, Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Bumblies (Warrington Guardian)

5 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Crowd (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

6 October 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (Melody Maker)

18 October 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (Wood Green and Southgate Herald)

20 October 1965 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

23 October 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph)

 

6 November 1965 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire with The Clayton Squares (Lancashire Evening Post)

10 November 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley southeast London (Melody Maker)

11 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Derry Wilkie & The Pressmen (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

14 November 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 November 1965 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

20 November 1965 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

24 November 1965 – Ealing Tech College, Acton Town Hall, Acton, west London with Phil Wainman (Acton Gazette)

25 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with TC’s Big Boss Band (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

 

3 December 1965 – RAE Assembly Hall, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Worrying Kinde (Aldershot News)

9 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

11 December 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

13 December 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Wood Green and Southgate Herald)

16 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Bluesology (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

Image may be subject to copyright

31 December 1965 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Beat Instrumental) 

1966

2 January 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental) 

3 January 1966 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire (Beat Instrumental) 

4 January 1966 – Cavern Club, Liverpool (Beat Instrumental) 

6 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

7 January 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire with support (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

8 January 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Windsor, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental) 

9 January 1966 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Beat Instrumental)

14 January 1966 – Krinkotab, Hermitage Halls, Hitchin, Herts (Hertfordshire Express)

15 January 1966 – Gig in Loughborough (Beat Instrumental) 

20 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

21 January 1966 – Swansea University, Swansea, Wales (Beat Instrumental) 

22 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

23 January 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

28 January 1966 – Trowbridge Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)

29 January 1966 – Neeld Hall, Chippenham, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental) 

30 January 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

31 January 1966 – Bridgwater Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset (Beat Instrumental)

 

1 February 1966 – Concord Club,  Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hants (Beat Instrumental)

3 February 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

4 February 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (website: http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/club-agogo-newcastle-2/)

5 February 1966 – Gig in Manchester (Beat Instrumental) 

6 February 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star)

8 February 1966 – Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales (Beat Instrumental)

11 February 1966 – Kent University (probably Canterbury), Kent (Beat Instrumental) 

12 February 1966 – Co-op Hall, Redhill, Surrey (Beat Instrumental) 

13 February 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, southeast London (Beat Instrumental) 

14 February 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Beat Instrumental) 

17 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) This isn’t listed in Beat Instrumental

18 February 1966 – College of Technology, Rugby, Warwickshire (Beat Instrumental) 

19 February 1966 – Durham University (Beat Instrumental) 

20 February 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental) 

Photo from Richard Goddard

24 February 1966 – Ross Jazz Club, Gloucester, Gloucestershire with The Advocates (courtesy of Richard Goddard/Gloucester Citizen)

26 February 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

6 March 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

10 March 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Anteek (Melody Maker)

13 March 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

16 March 1966 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)

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

22 March 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)

24 March 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Koobas (Melody Maker)

26 March 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

 

2 April 1966 – Technical College, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)

6 April 1966 – Sperry Canteen, Bracknell, Berkshire with The Klimkak (Bracknell News)

9 April 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire with Jay Anson Sounds (Aldershot News)

13 April 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)

15 April 1966 – Links R&B Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts with Sands (Simon Gee research)

16 April 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)

22 April 1966 – Royal College of Advanced Tech, Salford, Greater Manchester with The Chasers and The Detroits (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

23 April 1966 – College of Technology, Birmingham (Disc & Music Echo)

24 April 1966 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with The Op-Scene (website: http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

25 April 1966 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (Beat Instrumental)

28 April 1966 – Scotland (Beat Instrumental)

29 April 1966 – Fraser House, Edinburgh, Scotland (Beat Instrumental)

30 April 1966 – Stamford R&B Club, Stamford Hotel, Stamford, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

 

1 May 1966 – NME Poll Concert, Wembley, west London (Beat Instrumental) 

2 May 1966 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Lewisham Borough News)

3 May 1966 – Pendulum, Greenford, west London (Beat Instrumental) 

4 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (website: http://www.eelpiemuseum.co.uk/rollcall/rollcall/)

5 May 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (website: http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/club-agogo-newcastle-2/)

6 May 1966 – Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Beat Instrumental) 

7 May 1966 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester (Beat Instrumental) 

8 May 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental) 

12 May 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with The Breed (Cambridge News/Disc & Music Echo)

13 May 1966 – University of Warwick, Coventry (Disc & Music Echo)

14 May 1966 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Disc & Music Echo) Beat Instrumental lists Dreamland Ballroom, Margate on this date

15 May 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Alleycats (Aldershot News)

16 May 1966 – Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk (Beat Instrumental) 

18 May 1966 – TWW Now (Trend & Boyfriend)

20 May 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury) Beat Instrumental lists West Oxfordshire Technical College in Witney on this date as does Trend & Boyfriend magazine

21 May 1966 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London (Trend & Boyfriend) 

22 May 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News) Trend & Boyfriend has Edgware Town FC on this date

24 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Clayton Squares (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

26 May 1966 – KD Club, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

27 May 1966 – Town Hall, Acton, London (Disc & Music Echo) Trend & Boyfriend has Crawdaddy Club, Richmond on this date

28 May 1966 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London (Melody Maker)

29 May 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental) 

30 May 1966 – Lincoln City Football Ground, Lincoln, Lincolnshire with Barron Knights, Crispian St Peters, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, The Ivy League, The Kinks, The Koobas, Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The She Trinity, The Small Faces, The Who and The Yardbirds (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

31 May 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Preston, Lancashire (Disc & Music Echo)

 

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

4 June 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Gentry (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

8 June 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Southampton, Hants (Beat Instrumental) 

10 June 1966 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Beat Instrumental) 

11 June 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

13 June 1966 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) 

16 June 1966 – Ritz, Skewen, Wales (Trend & Boyfriend)

17 June 1966 – Casino Ballroom, Blackpool, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental) 

18 June 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental) 

21 June 1966 – Balliol Commem, Balliol College, Oxford University with The Kinks, The Fortunes, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Them, Caribbean All-Steer Band and Bunny Thompson (Cherwell)

23 June 1966 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental) 

24 June 1966 – Devonshire Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental) 

25 June 1966 –Central School of Arts and Crafts, London (Beat Instrumental) 

26 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

27 June 1966 – Keele University, Staffordshire (Beat Instrumental) 

28 June 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Beat Instrumental) 

29 June 1966 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire (website: http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

30 June 1966 – Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Disc & Music Echo)

 

1 July 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire (Disc & Music Echo)

2 July 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Longboatmen (East Kent Times)

3 July 1966 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset (Beat Instrumental) 

4 July 1966 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Disc & Music Echo)

5 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with James Royal Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

7 July 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

8 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting group (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

9 July 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Style (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

11 July 1966 – Gay Towers Ballroom, Birmingham (Beat Instrumental) 

15 July 1966 – Princess and Domino Clubs, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental) 

16 July 1966 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental) 

21 July 1966 – Astoria Ballroom, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

22 July 1966 – Gedney Playing Field, Gedney, Lincolnshire with The Koobas (Fabulous 208)

23 July 1966 – Bowes-Lyon House, Stevenage, Herts and Corn Exchange, Hertford, Herts (Beat Instrumental) 

26 July 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Southsea, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

28 July 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Fabulous 208)

29 July 1966 – Grimsby Mecca, Grimsby, Humberside (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) 

30 July 1966 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with DJ Blues Band and Him & The Others (Essex County Standard/Fabulous 208)

 

7 August 1966 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset (Beat Instrumental) 

9 August 1966 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with  The Hunters (Herald Express)

13 August 1966 – New Scene, Corn Exchange, Leicester with The Farinas (Leicester Mercury)

16 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Beat Instrumental) 

17 August 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

18 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

19 August 1966 – Club a Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Beat Instrumental) 

20 August 1966 – Town Hall, Hawick, Scotland (Beat Instrumental/Fabulous 208)

21 August 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

23 August 1966 – Civi Hall, Grays, Essex (Fabulous 208)

26 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Goodtime Band and The Boys Blue (Melody Maker)

27-28 August 1966 – Weekend trip to Paris, France (Disc & Music Echo)

Image may be subject to copyright

3 September 1966 – Civic Hall, Barnsley, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

4 September 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

13 September 1966 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)

15 September 1966 – Odeon Manchester, Manchester with Otis Redding and St Louis Union (Fabulous 208)

16 September 1966 – Marine Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

17 September 1966 – Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston Super Mare, Somerset with The Ken Birch Band and The Bones (Weston Mercury)

 18 September 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with Ian and Danny Evans with Sounds Reformed (Eastern Evening News)

20 September 1966 – Silver Blades Ice Rink, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Melody Maker)

24 September 1966 – Paris Olympia, Paris, France (Melody Maker)

28 September 1966 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Dusty Springfield and The Echoes, Boz & His Group, The Settlers, Episode Six and David and Jonathan (Southern Evening Echo)

29 September 1966 – Odeon, Cheltenham with Dusty Springfield, Episode Six, Boz & His Group, The Settlers, The Echoes and Los Bravos (Gloucester Citizen)

30 September 1966 – Odeon, New Street, Birmingham, West Midlands with Dusty Springfield, Boz & His Group, The Settlers, The Echoes, Episode Six and Los Bravos (Express & Star)

 

1 October 1966 – Capitol, Cardiff, Wales with Dusty Springfield and Los Bravos (Fabulous 208)

Disc & Music Echo has the group playing at the Paris Olympia with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds on 1 October but this seems unlikely considering The Dusty Springfield tour

2 October 1966 – Colston Hall, Bristol with Dusty Springfield and Los Bravos (Fabulous 208)

During mid-October Peter Kirtley joins on lead guitar from The Loose Ends. Disc & Music Echo reports this in its 26 November issue, page 5 so perhaps it’s later.

15 October 1966 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire (replacing Moody Blues) (Cambridgeshire Times)

15 October 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Rising Sons and Friction (Cambridgeshire Times) 

20 October 1966 – Olympic Ballroom, East Kilbridge, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

21 October 1966 – Raith Ballroom, Kirkcaldy, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

21 October 1966 – Community Centre, Whitburn, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

22 October 1966 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria (Fabulous 208)

23 October 1966 – Top 10 Club, Dundee, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

24 October 1966 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

26 October 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

28 October 1966 – Hillside Ballroom, Herford, Herefordshire with Chapter Two (Gloucester Citizen)

29 October 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

30 October 1966 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

 

November 1966 – Scandinavian trip, three shows in Gothenburg, Sweden (Disc & Music Echo)

2 November 1966 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

3 November 1966 – Public Hall, Wallington, London (Fabulous 208)

5 November 1966 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Phantom 4 (Surrey Advertiser)

10 November 1966 – Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales (Disc & Music Echo)

18 November 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (website: http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/club-agogo-newcastle-2/)

19 November 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

24 November 1966 – Palais, Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester (Disc & Music Echo)

25 November 1966 – St Michael’s Hall, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts (Disc & Music Echo)

27 November 1966 – Gig at club on Brazil Street, Manchester (Disc & Music Echo)

 

2 December 1966 – Hoverton Village Hall, Hoverton, Norfolk with News (Eastern Evening News/South Norfolk News)

4 December 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)

7 December 1966 – Hull University, Hull, East Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

8 December 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

9 December 1966 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

10 December 1966 – Birmingham University, Birmingham, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

11 December 1966 – Saville Theatre, London with Little Richard, The Quotations and Bluesology (Disc & Music Echo)

14 December 1966 – University College, Gower Street, London (Fabulous 208)

15 December 1966 – Willenhall St Giles Youth Club, Willenhall, West Midlands with The ‘N’ Betweens, The Measles and the Cobras (Express & Star)

16 December 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, London (Fabulous 208)

17 December 1966 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with support (Southend Standard)

20 December 1966 – Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Bluesology (Surrey Advertiser)

22 December 1966 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

23 December 1966 – Trowbridge Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Fabulous 208)

24 December 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Sean Buckley Set (East Kent Times)

28 December 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, London (Fabulous 208)

30 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Spectrum (Melody Maker)

31 December 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

1967

3 January 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

6 January 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London (Melody Maker)

7 January 1967 – Winter Gardens, Weston super Mare, Somerset (Fabulous 208)

14 January 1967 – Rink Ballroom, Swadlincote, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)

15 January 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Bluecaps (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

16 January 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

17 January 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

18 January 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool (Fabulous 208)

19 January 1967 – South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

21 January 1967 – College of Technology, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

 

4 February 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)

5-11 February 1967 – Towers Theatre Club, Warrington, Cheshire (St Helens Newspaper)

5-11 February 1967 – Garrick Club, Leigh, Greater Manchester (St Helens Newspaper)

18 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool (Fabulous 208)

22 February 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Ensemble (Birmingham Evening Mail)

24 February 1967 – Durham University, Durham with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Fabulous 208)

25 February 1967 – Portland Buildings, University Park, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)

 

2 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

4 March 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

5 March 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

7 March 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book) Geno Washington and Herbie Goins join in

9 March 1967 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

10 March 1967 – Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Fabulous 208)

11 March 1967 – Chelsea College, Manresa Road, Chelsea, London with The Real McCoy (Fabulous 208)

13 March 1967 – Granby Halls, Leicester with The Who, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Dick Morrissey (Fabulous 208/Leicester Mercury)

16 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

18 March 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

19 March 1967 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Fabulous 208)

22 March 1967 – Technical College, Uxbridge, London (Fabulous 208)

23 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star)

24 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

25 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)

Around this time Clive Burrows leaves to join Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Terry Childs joins on baritone sax. 

Disc & Music Echo reports Burrows’ departure in its 18 March issue and Childs’ arrival in its 25 March issue.

27 March 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

31 March 1967 – Town Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire (Fabulous 208)

 

1 April 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Tatters (Crewe Chronicle)

2-5 April 1967 – Cavendish Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

2-8 April 1967 – Club Latino, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

2-8 April 1967 – Wetherall’s Club, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

12 April 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)

15 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

18 April 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)

20 April 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Nottingham Evening Post)

21 April 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Gates of Eden (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

22 April 1967 – Century Hall, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

23 April 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)

28 April 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

29 April 1967 – Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

30 April 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria (Fabulous 208)

 

2 May 1967 – Club Tranchi, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

4 May 1967 – Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

5 May 1967 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland with The T-Set (Forres, Elgin & Nairn Gazette)

12 May 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire with Sounds Incorporated (Fabulous 208)

13 May 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (Hull Daily Mail)

14 May 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Jazz Board (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

19 May 1967 – The Barn, New Cattris, Cambridge (Disc & Music Echo)

20 May 1967 – Faculty of Tech Union, Student Union Building, Altrincham Street, Manchester with The Delmonts (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

24 May 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

25 May 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire (Fabulous 208)

26 May 1967 – May Ball, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucestershire with The Amboy Dukes, Johnny Patrick and Brenda Scott, The Sky Blue Show Band and Bill Nile’s Good Time Band (Poster from Stevie Barr)

27 May 1967 – Memorial Hall, Norwich, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

28 May 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London (Fabulous 208)

31 May 1967 – Boom Boom Club, Durham, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

 

1 June 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

2 June 1967 – Cricket Club, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside (Fabulous 208)

3 June 1967 – University of Sussex, Brighton, Sussex (Fabulous 208)

6 June 1967 – The band left for West Germany for three night-stand at the Big Apple, Munich, Bavaria (Melody Maker)

10 June 1967 – Winter Gardens, Weston super Mare, Somerset (Fabulous 208)

12 June 1967 – Trinity College, Cambridge with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

16 June 1967 – Keble College, Oxford, Oxfordshire with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

19 June 1967 – Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Oxfordshire with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

22 June 1967 – UAE, Norwich, Norfolk (Disc & Music Echo)

23 June 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Disc & Music Echo)

24 June 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The London Foundation, Zanie Woodruff Operation and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard)

25 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with support groups (Crawley Advertiser)

26 June 1967 – St Luke’s College, Exeter, Devon (Disc & Music Echo)

28 June 1967 – Disco Blue Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight (Fabulous 208)

30 June 1967 – Longmoor Hall, Reith, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)

 

1 July 1967 – Beach Room, Aberdeen, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)

2 July 1967 – Fulmer Club, Lossiemouth, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)

4 July 1967 – Palace Ballroom, Douglas, Isle of Man (Fabulous 208)

Disc & Music Echo’s 22 July issue, page 4, notes that Alan Price has expanded the band with trumpet player Jeff Condon and sax player Johnny Almond from Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, who are splitting but will fulfill outstanding commitments first.

It also notes that Peter Kirtley is leaving and former Gamblers’ guitarist Jimmy Crawford is replacing him. 

19 July 1967 – Scotch Club Discotheque, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express) 

23 July 1967 – Central Hall, Gillingham, Kent (Fabulous 208)

28 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Screen (Melody Maker)

29 July 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Sect (website: http://peterboroughimages.co.uk/music/?p=8130)

30 July 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

 

4 August 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with Dixie’s Don’ts (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

Kirtley leaves around now to form Happy Magazine.

Disc & Music Echo, 12 August issue, notes that Jeff Condon has joined.

17 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with South Side Move (East Kent Times & Mail)

22 August 1967 – Lotus Ballroom, Forest Gate, London (Newham & Stratford Express)

25 August 1967 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with The Jaguars (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

26 August 1967 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with Shinn (Fabulous 208/Torquay Times)

Melody Maker reports that John Walters has left.

1 September 1967 – Marquee Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

2 September 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (Hull Daily Mail)

Disc & Music Echo’s 2 September issue says that Alan Price has high hopes for ex-guitarist Peter Kirtley who is recording in his own right (the band Happy Magazine).

3-4 September 1967 – Tito’s Marimba, Stockton on Tees, County Durham (week-long gig from Sunday 3 September) (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

17 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Fix (Evening Sentinel)

21 September 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Matlock Baths, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)

22 September 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

23 September 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Disc & Music Echo)

29 September 1967 – The Barbeque, Whetstone, Leicester (Fabulous 208)

30 September 1967 – Kitson Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

 

5 October 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

6 October 1967 – University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

7 October 1967 – Winter Gardens, Weston super Mare, Somerset (Fabulous 208)

8 October 1967 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex with The Riot Squad (Essex Chronicle)

11 October 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

12 October 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Fabulous 208)

13 October 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

14 October 1967 – Tinned Chicken Club, York, North Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

14 October 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation (Crewe Chronicle)

15 October 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with James South Set (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

20 October 1967 – Belle Vue, Manchester (Disc & Music Echo)

26 October 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

27 October 1967 – Hairy Bob’s Cavern/Candelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News/Fabulous 208)

28 October 1967 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester (Fabulous 208)

Paul Williams joins on bass and vocals from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Steve Gregory leaves around now to join The Amboy Dukes.

3 November 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with The Taylor Upton Big Band (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

4 November 1967 – University of North Wales, Bangor, Wales (Fabulous 208)

5 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, London with The Foundations and David McWilliams (Melody Maker)

10 November 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London (Melody Maker)

11 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester (Disc & Music Echo)

15 November 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts (Berkhamstead Gazette, Tring & District News)

17 November 1967 – St George’s Hall, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208)

Disc & Music Echo has this as St George’s Hall in Exeter, Devon

18 November 1967 – Bristol University, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

20 November 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Doncaster Evening Post)

22 November 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts (Hertfordshire Express)

23 November 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

24 November 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The West Coast Union (Gloucester Citizen)

25 November 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire (Disc & Music Echo)

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

28 November 1967 – Newcastle College of Education, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

30 November 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

 

2 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with The Army (Melody Maker)

5 December 1967 – Royal Albert Hall, London (Fabulous 208)

6 December 1967 – Big Beat ’67 concert, Royal Albert Hall, London with Joe Tex, Ferris Wheel, Steve Hammond and Jan Kimbell (Melody Maker)

Disc & Music Echo says that the Big Beat concert was cancelled at the last minute

8 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Fabulous 208)

9 December 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Human Instinct (East Kent Times & Mail)

11 December 1967 – Padgate College of Education, Warrington, Cheshire (Fabulous 208/Disc & Music Echo)

12 December 1967 – Christ’s College of Education, Liverpool (Disc & Music Echo)

13 December 1967 – Teacher Training College, Dudley, West Midlands (Disc & Music Echo)

14 December 1967 – York University, York (Disc & Music Echo)

15 December 1967 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with Downline Chasers and Herb & Grace (Sussex Express & County Herald)

17 December 1967 – Linden Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Cavalliers (Bournemouth Echo)

22 December 1967 – Locarno, Student’s Union, Derby with Sons and Lovers and John Smith Affair (Derby Evening Telegraph)

29 December 1967 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with The Capitol Systems, The Sun Trolley Group and The Revelations (Birmingham Evening Mail)

30 December 1967 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, West Sussex with Herb and Grace and Downline Chasers (Sussex Express)

1968

1 January 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

3 January 1968 – Rum Runner, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

9-13 January 1968 – Fiesta Club, Stockton on Tees, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

9-13 January 1968 – Collingwood Club, West Hartlepool, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

20 January 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Circuit and The Shades of Blue (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)

26 January 1968 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, The Soul Seekers, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

 

3 February 1968 – Durham University, Durham, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

 

1 March 1968 – Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset (Fabulous 208)

 

6 April 1968 – Winsford Civic Hall, Winsford, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine (Crewe Chronicle)

13 April 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The New York Public Library (East Kent Times)

21 April 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with O’Hara’s Playboys (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

24 April 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London (Melody Maker)

 

1 May 1968 – Memorial Hall, Barry, Wales (Fabulous 208)

7-11 May 1968 – Cavendish Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

12-13 May 1968 – Cavendish Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

21-24 May 1968 – Club Titos, Stockton on Tees, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

21-24 May 1968 – Club La Bamba, Darlington, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

31 May 1968 – Playing Fields, Great Stukeley, Huntingdon with The Triads and The Spectre Power House (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

 

1 June 1968 – Hereford College, Oxford (Fabulous 208)

4 June 1968 – Colston Hall, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

8 June 1968 – Royal Star Hotel, Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Gazette)

 

13 July 1968 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with The Nashville Teens and The Caste (Lynn News)

 

31 August-1 September 1968 – Scene Two Discotheque, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News)

 

1 September 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Candy Choir (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

18 September 1968 – Grafton Ballroom, Liverpool (Fabulous 208)

29 September 1968 – ‘Olympop’, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, The Nice, The Eclection, Spooky Tooth and Alan Bown (Beckenham and Penge Advertiser)

 

6-12 October 1968 – Domino Club, Bedlington (Fabulous 208)

12 October 1968 – Carousel Club, Chester-Le-Street (Fabulous 208)

Shortly after Alan Price leaves to go solo and the band becomes The Paul Williams Set

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

 

Julian Covey & The Machine

Image may be subject to copyright

Drummer Robert Cromwell Anson (b. 20 October 1940, Sherwood, Nottingham) had played with various jazz bands, including The Don Rendell Quintet before joining The Brian Auger Trinity in July 1963 and working under the name Phil Kinnora.

In August 1964, Anson left to form his own group, The Machine, and adopted a new stage name, Julian Covey. The first line-up of the new formation came together that September.

Over the next three years, Julian Covey & The Machine underwent a staggering number of personnel changes, which often resulted in entirely new formations lasting a handful of months.

One of the first significant musicians to feature in the group’s ranks was Hammond organist Vincent Crane (b. Vincent Rodney Cheesman, 21 May 1943, Reading, Berkshire, d. 14 February 1989), who had previously worked with The Vincent Cheesman Trio, The Simon Magus Band/The Vincent Cheesman Blues Brothers, Lew Hird’s Australian Jazz Band and The Big Sound.

Photo: Melody Maker

It’s quite possible that Crane was part of the formation when Julian Covey & The Machine made its Marquee debut, opening for The Spencer Davis Group, on 4 May 1965.

Noted jazz sax player Bob Downes (b. 22 July 1937, Plymouth, Devon), who had previously worked with The John Barry Seven, remembers Crane being a member of the band for a while but it is unlikely that the Hammond organist was still on-board when Julian Covey & The Machine travelled to Accra in Ghana and performed a week-long gig in the city.

Crane, of course, would later go on to play with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster after playing with The Word Engine, Vincent Crane’s Freedom Riders and The Vincent Crane Combo in the interim.

Downes meanwhile would also work with The Word Engine before playing with Jimmy Nicol & The Shub Dubs, Chris Andrews and then Dave Antony’s Moods.

Around June 1965, Julian Covey pieced together a new version of The Machine comprising the following:

Julian Covey – drums/vocals

Jim Cregan – lead guitar

Dave Levy – piano

Cliff Barton – bass

+

Saxophone player

Cliff Barton (b. 1944, West Ealing, London, d. 16 May 1968) had worked with a host of bands before joining but didn’t stay very long, according to Jim Cregan (b. 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset). Barton’s pedigree included playing with Cyril Davies and The R&B All Stars and Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men. He would join The Alan Price Set on leaving Julian Covey.

Jim Cregan told Jason Barnard at the Strange Brew website that he joined Julian Covey and future Yes bass player Chris Squire for a short trip to Ghana to mark the inauguration of the Ghanaian TV service. The trio supported pianist Ramon Bouche and played on TV a couple of times but did not perform any live gigs. Ghana Today Television, the country’s national public broadcaster, run by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation commenced operations on 31 July 1965, so the band’s trip to Ghana would have been around this time.

A former member of The Muldoons, Jim Cregan would go on to play with The Ingoes and more significantly Blossom Toes in 1960s among others. He would also become a noted session player during the 1970s.

Image may be subject to copyright. This image dates from 1965. I would welcome any comments on who the musicians are

In October 1965, Covey formed yet another formation of The Machine which included:

John McVie – bass

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

+

Geoff Krivit – lead guitar

John McVie (b. 26 November 1945, Ealing, London) had been sacked from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers for his drinking in early October (his place taken by Jack Bruce initially).

Hammond organist Stan Marut also joined at this time after working with The Jynx Pack. He had previously been a member of Dickie Pride & The Original Topics.

Before the year was out, guitarist Geoff Krivit (b. 1948) who had subbed for Eric Clapton in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers between September-October 1965 joined The Machine briefly. He’d previously played with The Secrets, Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions and The Five Dimensions.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, the band supported The Shots (who later evolved into The Smoke) at Preston Public Hall on 29 October 1965 alongside Shawn Philips. The following dates opening for The Shots suggest that there may have been a short tour.

7 November 1965 – Belle Vue, Manchester with The Shots and Shawn Phillips (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

9 November 1965 – Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough with The Shots and Shawn Phillips (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

Marut remembers that The Machine landed a regular Saturday night gig at the Cromwellian during this period.

Photo: Melody Maker, early 1966

According to Melody Maker, they played at the Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, south west London on 6 November (see below), which took place part of the way through the tour with The Shots.

Shortly after John McVie returned to John Mayall’s band in the first week of January 1966, future Herd drummer Andrew Steele (b. 2 August 1941, Hendon, London, d. 18 April 2005) joined after working with Johnny Halliday. Steele had started out with Gary Farr & The T-Bones and was an old friend of Jim Cregan’s, having played with him in The Muldoons in early 1965.

Geoff Krivit also departed around February 1966 to spend time with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound before hooking up with Dr K’s Blues Band.

Guitarist Mike Ward and bass player Steve Rance from The Ad-Libs, the house band at Leicester Square club, the Ad-Lib joined at this time. The band then comprised:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Mike Ward – guitar

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

Steve Rance – bass

Andrew Steele – drums

Marut remembers the band played Peter Stringfellow’s club, the King Mojo in Sheffield and also at the Britannia Boat Club in Nottingham.

Marut also remembers sax player Dave Quincy from Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds used to jam with the group regularly.

I found a few gigs during this period:

26 February 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

18 March 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)

19 March 1966 – Stamford R&B Club, Stamford Hotel, Stamford, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

26 March 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

On the eve of a tour with John Lee Hooker in May 1966, Marut was forced to leave and Dave Greenslade took his place. After the tour, Dave Greenslade left to join Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.

While playing at Tiles, Oxford Street on 5 May (see above), the band’s drummer (Ed: Andrew Steele?) had to pull out and Covey took over the drum stool and gained praise from Hooker.

I found a few gigs during this period: 

13 May 1966 – Village, Cleethorpes (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Billed as The Machine and backed John Lee Hooker

14 May 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed John Lee Hooker

12 June 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

 

16 July 1966 – Greyhound Hotel, Cromford, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph)

21 July 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hants (Southern Evening Echo)

22 July 1966 – Peyton Place, Bromley South, London (Melody Maker)

According to David Else, a revamped line-up played in a side tent at the Windsor Festival on 30 July 1966.

Photo: Mirabelle, 27 August 1966 issue

Around September 1966, however, Covey reshuffled the band yet again to include:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Dave Mason – lead guitar

Keith Webb – drums

Dave Mason (b. 10 May 1946, Worcester, Worcestershire) had played in several local Worcester bands, most notably The Hellions before jumping ship to join Covey in late 1966.

Keith Webb (b. 1934, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, d. 31 March 2007) had previously worked with The Hipster Image and was probably the most consistent member of The Machine after Covey, surviving to the band’s split in September 1967.

According to the Kent Messenger & Gravesend Journal, the group appeared at Coronational Ballroom in Ramsgate, Kent on 9 September 1966.

Photo: Melody Maker. 10 September 1966

On 22 September 1966, Julian Covey & The Machine made their second Marquee appearance, opening for The Move.

In late 1966, Julian Covey & The Machine played at the Bag O’Nails in Kingley Street, Soho for a week. However, Mason didn’t stay long and in spring 1967 he formed Traffic and later found success as a solo artist.

On 8 October 1966, the band returns for another show at the  Greyhound Hotel, Cromford, Derbyshire.

On 29 October 1966, the group appears at the 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Noyse.

Around November 1966, Covey reshuffled the pack again to:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence (aka Johnny Holiday) – bass

Keith Webb – drums

Johnny Spence (b. 26 January 1942, Birmingham) had some pedigree, having previously worked (most notably) with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Pirates after splitting from the singer. He’d recently spent time backing US legend, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Indian-born John Morsehead had met Spence while playing with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Pirates. In May 1966, he joined The Shotgun Express where he played with future Machine member Peter Bardens.

A few notable gigs from this period include:

4 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

5 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London (Melody Maker)

12 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)

29 November 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton south London (Melody Maker)

 

14 December 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne (Fabulous 208)

16 December 1966 – Slade School of Fine Arts, Gower Street, central London with The Move (Fabulous 208)

30 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

 

2 January 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)

12 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

19 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

Around late January/early February 1967, Covey formed what is probably considered to be the definitive version of the band, which cut the group’s lone 45, “A Little Bit Hurt” c/w “Sweet Bacon”.

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence – bass

Pete Solley – Hammond organ

Keith Webb – drums

Ex-Trinity College of Music keyboard player Pete Solley (b. 19 October 1948, London) joined the existing line-up.

Having cut a lone single for Island Records, which was produced by Jimmy Miller, “A Little Bit of Hurt” c/w “Sweet Bacon” was released on 12 May 1967.

Image may be subject to copyright

The new formation gigged incessantly and shows included the following:

27 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

28 January 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Tropical Boot Company (Derby Evening Telegraph)

 

2 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

9 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

14 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Keith Webb (Evening Sentinel)

16 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

17 February 1967 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

 

8 March 1967 – Falcon Hotel, Falconwood, southeast London (PACE magazine)

21 March 1967 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

24 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

26 March 1967 – Klue J Club, Chelmsford, Essex (Poster)

21 April 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

 

5 May 1967 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

6 May 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The All Night Workers (Melody Maker)

13 May 1967 – Bluesville, St Thomas Parish Hall, Brentwood, Essex (Melody Maker)

27 May 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Small Change (Birmingham Evening Mail)

On 29 May, Covey also depped on drums for Keith Moon in The Who when the sticks man hurt his stomach throwing his drum kit at the crowd.

4 June 1967 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

17 June 1967 – Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

23 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Middlesex County Times)

24 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

28 June 1967 – Charles Keene College, Leicester Corn Exchange, Leicester with The Family and The Invaders (Leicester Mercury)

6 July 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band  (West Briton & Cornwall Gazette)

15 July 1967 – Cottingham Civic Hall, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire with The Locomotion (Hull Daily Mail)

In August 1967, they also performed at the 6th National Jazz and Blues Festival but soon after Peter Bardens, who’d briefly worked with The Love Affair, joined on Hammond organ. Bardens had an impressive musical pedigree, which included The Cheynes, Them, The Peter B’s and The Shotgun Express, which is where he worked with Morsehead.

Pete Solley next joined Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds but left in May 1968 to briefly work with Los Bravos. In late 1968, he joined Terry Reid’s backing band (where he reunited with Keith Webb) and then worked with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown before becoming member of Paladin.

In September 1967, Julian Covey & The Machine ran its course. Renamed Philamore Lincoln, Anson joined Graham Bond for several months before embarking on an intriguing solo career.

Morsehead next joined Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation while Spence retired but later reformed The Pirates.

NOTE: the band’s history is difficult to trace accurately so I would welcome any additions/corrections below in the comments section

Thanks Stan Marut, Bob Downes, Jim Cregan, Jason Barnard, David Else, Bruno Ceriotti and John Warburg for providing information. This website was also incredibly useful:

http://newuntouchables.com/magazine/tag/julian-covey-the-machine/

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