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)
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)
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)
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:
Welcome to the first 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 and, where possible, I have added the sources used, whether they are newspapers or websites. 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.
Formed in late 1959, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds comprises the following line-up by spring 1963:
5 April 1964 – Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London (Kentish Mercury)
12 April 1964 – Ricky Tick, Olympia Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire (Bucks Free Press)
18 April 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Tony Holland & The Pack-A-Beats and The Renegades (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
19 April 1964 – Blue Moon, Hayes, Middlesex with The Impacts (Dorothy Bullock list)
21 April 1964 – Fender Club, Kenton, Middlesex with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 April 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
30 April 1964 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Dean Austen & The Dominators (Essex Chronicle)
15 May 1964 – Pussycat Club, Bruce Grove Ballroom, N17, London with The Zephyrs (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
25 May 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
David Greenslade joined on keyboards around June and Albert Lee took over from Bobby Taylor on lead guitar.
9 June 1964 – Jumbo Club, King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)
18 June 1964 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Luton News)
14 October 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
23 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
24 October 1965 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
2 November 1965 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Herts with Colin Wilkie and Shirley Hart (Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Express)
5 November 1965 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Artwoods, Tony Knight’s Chessmen and The Crawdaddies (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
11 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
12 November 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with The Spencer Davis Group, The King Bees and The Cock O Hoops (Birmingham Evening Mail)
14 November 1965 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
15 November 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
19 November 1965 – Armco Sports & Social Club, Letchworth, Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Various Others (Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Express) Colin Jamies, bass player with The Various Others, got in touch to say his group was called The Various Others
21 November 1965 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
6 December 1965 – Star Hotel, Croydon, south London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
8 December 1965 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News)
12 December 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex with John L Kingdon’s Humperdinks (Mid Sussex Times)
24 December 1965 – Manor House (most likely north London) (Beat Instrumental)
25 December 1965 – Cavern Club, Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
26 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Jimmy Cliff, Ayshea, Pete Hodges and The New Generation and The Tribe (Evening Sentinel)
27 December 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Javelins (East Kent Times)
28 December 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
29 December 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Beat Instrumental)
31 December 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Beat Instrumental)
1966
Bruce Waddell took over from Ricky Charman on bass in January
1 January 1966 – King Edward School, Southampton, Hants (Beat Instrumental)
2 January 1966 – Stonecross Hall, Harlow, Herts (Beat Instrumental)
5 January 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
7 January 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental)
8 January 1966 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex (Beat Instrumental)
9 January 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star)
12 January 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich (Eastern Evening News)
14 January 1966 – Exeter University, Exeter, Devon (Beat Instrumental)
15 January 1966 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London (Beat Instrumental)
16 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London (Beat Instrumental)
18 January 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London (Beat Instrumental)
20 January 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Beat Instrumental)
21 January 1966 – Rialto Club, Derby (Beat Instrumental)
22 January 1966 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
23 January 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
25 January 1966 – College of Advanced Technology, Birmingham (Beat Instrumental)
27 January 1966 – BRC Club, Stafford (Boyfriend magazine)
28 January 1966 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
29 January 1966 – Big Beat Club, the Ballroom, Two Puddings Hotel, Hackney, north London (Beat Instrumental) Boyfriend magazine also has In Crowd, Hackney as second gig on this night
31 January 1966 – Star Hotel, Croydon, south London (Beat Instrumental)
2 February 1966 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News)
3 February 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
3 February 1966 – Star Hotel, Croydon, London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon) Beat Instrumental has this on 31 January and says the band play Blue Moon in Cheltenham today
4 February 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, Sidcup, Kent (Beat Instrumental)
5 February 1966 – Big Beat Club, Stratford (possibly London) (Beat Instrumental)
6 February 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
10 February 1966 – Blue Triangle Club, Ealing, west London (Beat Instrumental)
11 February 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Beat Instrumental)
12 February 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental)
13 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (Melody Maker)
14 February 1966 – Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk (Beat Instrumental)
15 February 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Beat Instrumental)
18 February 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Boyfriend magazine)
19 February 1966 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental) Advertised as Markham Hall so just needs confirmation/Boyfriend magazine has the band at Leascliff Hall, Folkestone on this date
23 February 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich (Eastern Evening News)
25 February 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental)
26 February 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
27 February 1966 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria (Beat Instrumental)
28 February 1966 – Top Rank, Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental)
1 March 1966 – Top Rank, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Beat Instrumental)
2 March 1966 – Rag Week ’66, College of Advanced Technology, Great Hall, Gosta Green, West Midlands with Acker Bilk (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 March 1966 – Civic Hall, Grays, Essex (Beat Instrumental)
17 March 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Burnley, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)
18 March 1966 – Durham University, Durham (Beat Instrumental)
19 March 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London (Beat Instrumental)
20 March 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Beat Instrumental)
21 March 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental)
23 March 1966 – Swansea University, Swansea, Wales (Beat Instrumental)
24 March 1966 – Brighton University, Brighton, Sussex (Beat Instrumental)
27 March 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Dave Quincy and Gerry Temple both left around about now reduced the band to a quintet.
6 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (Melody Maker)
11 April 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Artwoods, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Rockhouse Band (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
14 April 1966 – West Bromwich Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Trend & Boyfriend)
15 April 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Trend & Boyfriend)
24 April 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News)
During May, Dave Greenslade briefly left to join Julian Covey & The Machine as they support John Lee Hooker on a UK tour but returned to The Thunderbirds soon after.
1 May 1966 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London (South East London Mercury)
Photo: John Treais
7 May 1966 – RAE Assembly Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire with Five Proud Walkers (Aldershot News)
8 May 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with Ian and Danny Eves with Sounds Reformed (Eastern Evening News)
14 May 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
15 May 1966 – Downs Hotel, Hassocks, West Sussex with Mike Stuart Span (Mid Sussex Times)
17 May 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
18 May 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich (Eastern Evening News)
20 May 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Cherokees (Berkhamsted Gazette & Tring and District News)
22 May 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
25 May 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Cardiff, Wales (Beat Instrumental)
27 May 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker)
28 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Stormsville Shakers (Melody Maker)
29 May 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Beat Instrumental)
30 May 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire with John McCoy’s Crawdaddies (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
31 May 1966 – Corn Exchange, Bristol (Disc & Music Echo)
1 June 1966 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
3 June 1966 – Bruce Grove Ballroom (Beat Instrumental)
4 June 1966 – Co-op Hall, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and Beachcomber, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental)
5 June 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
6 June 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News)
9 June 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Beat Instrumental)
10 June 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough (Beat Instrumental)
11 June 1966 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire with Saracens (website: http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm) This is missing from Beat Instrumental/Trend and Boyfriend has Drill Hall, Stamford Links on this date. However, Hertfordshire Express does
Thanks to Colin Fox for the photo
13 June 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex with 4-Bidden (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
15 June 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
16 June 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Beat Instrumental)
17 June 1966 – Keeble College, Oxford (Beat Instrumental)
18 June 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
19 June 1966 – Sunshine Ballroom, East Dereham, Norfolk (Beat Instrumental)
20 June 1966 – Christ College, Oxford (Beat Instrumental)
23 June 1966 – Hastings College 1066 Rag Appeal Dances, Pier Ballroom, Hastings, East Sussex with The In Crowd (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website/Beat Instrumental/Hastings and St Leonards Observer)
24 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Beat Instrumental)
25 June 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Wreckers (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
25 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Beat Instrumental)
26 June 1966 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Fabulous 208)
27 June 1966 – Manor House, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)
30 June 1966 – Ritz Ballroom, Skewen, South Wales (Fabulous 208)
1 July 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby (Beat Instrumental)
2 July 1966 – Spa Ballroom, Bridlington (Beat Instrumental)
3 July 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
4 July 1966 – Top Rank, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental)
6 July 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon) Beat Instrumental has Bromley Court Hotel on this date which is still possible
11 July 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
13 July 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
14 July 1966 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Beat Instrumental)
16 July 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Billy Storm & The Original Falcons (Cambridgeshire Times)
17 July 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
19 July 1966 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with Raynors’ Secrets and The Travellers (Herald Express)
23 July 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Kimbells, Southsea, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)
24 July 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The En-Devers Ltd (Melody Maker)
29 July 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Fabulous 208)
The South East London Mercury’s 29 July 1966 edition, page 1, has a good band story and picture. The line up is Chris Farlowe, Albert Lee, Bruce Waddell, Ian Hague and Dave Greenslade
30 July 1966 – New Cornish Riviera Lido, St Austell, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
31 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
2 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Evening Post)
4 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Evening Post)
6 August 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
9 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London (Melody Maker)
11 August 1966 – Ricky Tick, Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Hertfordshire (Poster)
12 August 1966 – The Gaff, North Bar, Banbury, Oxfordshire (Fabulous 208)
13 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire with The Delcounts and Breed (Grantham Journal)
18 August 1966 – Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford (Bigglewade Chronicle)
23 August 1966 – Kinema, Dunfermline, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
25 August 1966 – Palais, Dundee, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
26 August 1966 – City Hall, Perth, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
27 August 1966 – Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Atoms and The Conquests (Cumberland News)
28 August 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)
29 August 1966 – Grays Club, Grays Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208/Beat Instrumental)
31 August 1966 – Mr Magoos, Edinburgh, Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
1 September 1966 – Mr Magoos, Edinburgh, Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
3 September 1966 – King Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
4 September 1966 – Olympia Ballroom, Cromer, Norfolk (Beat Instrumental)
8 September 1966 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex (Worthing Herald)
9 September 1966 – Beat Festival, Scunthorpe United Football Ground, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, The Troggs, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, The Ram Jam Band, The Creation, The Mindbenders and The Fenmen (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
10 September 1966 – Casino Ballroom, Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Fabulous 208)
16 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Newbury, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)
17 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Otis Redding & his American Band, The Gates of Eden, The Rising Sons and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)
18 September 1966 – The New Scene, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
18 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Nottingham Evening Post)
22 September 1966 – Salisbury City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Impacts (Frogg Moody and Richard Nash’s book Hold Tight!)
23 September 1966 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with Mike Starr & The Citizens (Gloucester Citizen)
24 September 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Beat Instrumental)
29 September 1966 – New Yorker Discotheque, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Soul Men (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
30 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Good Time Band (Melody Maker)
1 October 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
1 October 1966 – Paris Olympia, Paris, France with The Alan Price Set (Disc & Music Echo) Clashes with Birdcage gig above so may not have happened
2 October 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with Eyes of Blond (Eastern Evening News) Fabulous 208 refers to this venue as The Sunshine Floor
7 October 1966 – Marine Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
8 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Invasion (Fabulous 208/Evening Sentinel)
8 October 1966 – King’s Hall, Stoke, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
14 October 1966 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Rogues (Fabulous 208/Evening Star)
15 October 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
In mid October, the band joined The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Georgie Fame, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Eric Burdon & The New Animals and The Eyes of Blue for a package tour (see details in comments)
15-21 January 1967 – Garrick, Leigh, Greater Manchester (St Helens Newspaper/Fabulous 208)
22-23 January 1967 – Club Latino, South Shields, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
22-23 January 1967 – Dolce Vita, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
3 February 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208)
4 February 1967 – University Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (Fabulous 208)
10 February 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Fabulous 208)
10 February 1967 – Battersea College, Battersea, south London (Fabulous 208)
11 February 1967 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, east London (Fabulous 208)
13 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool with The Searchers (Fabulous 208)
17 February 1967 – Rag Ball, Top Rank Suite, Swansea, south Wales with The Alan Price Set, Wayne Fontana, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Jug & Bottle Set (South Wales Evening Post)
18 February 1967 – Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
19 February 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Bluecaps (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
24 February 1967 – Durham University, Durham with Alan Price Set (Fabulous 208)
3 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)
4 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Edwin Starr and The Cool Combination, Root and Jenny Jackson & The Hightimers and Ray Bones (Fabulous 208 and Lincolnshire Standard)
4 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
7 March 1967 – St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with Sensational Anglians (Eastern Evening News)
9 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
10 March 1967 – Public Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire with The Alan Price Set (The Star)
10 March 1967 – Nottingham Tech College, Nottingham with Robert Hirst & The Big Taste, Our Young and The In Crowd (Nottingham Evening Post)
11 March 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Nite People (East Kent Times & Mail)
15 March 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with The Question (Cambridge News)
18 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
20 March 1967 – Star Hotel, Croydon, south London (Fabulous 208)
23 March 1967 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Fix and The Klubs (Fabulous 208/Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
25 March 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Academy (Dave Allen research)
27 March 1967 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, South Yorkshire with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, The Tiles Big Band, The Pityful and Moss’s Mixtures (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News/Melody Maker)
27 March 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire (Crewe Chronicle)
31 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Crawley Advertiser)
5 April 1967 – St Michael’s Youth Centre, Sydenham, southeast London with Citations (Fabulous 208)
8 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Lunar-2 Honey Band (Melody Maker)
9 April 1967 – Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, central London (Fabulous 208)
14 April 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208)
15 April 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Express and Star)
18 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
20 April 1967 – Town Hall, Loughborough, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208)
21 April 1967 – Gondola Club, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
22 April 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
24 April 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
30 April 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with Shinn (Melody Maker)
In early May, Dave Greenslade left to join Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band. Ian Hague departed about the same time to join PP Arnold & The Nice. Carl Palmer took his place on drums.
5 May 1967 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
7 May 1967 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
12 May 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
13 May 1967 – Nottingham University, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (Fabulous 208)
20 May 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Motown Trinity (Cambridgeshire Times)
20 May 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester with Pesky Gee (Fabulous 208/Leicester Mercury)
21 May 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Fabulous 208)
23 May 1967 – Swansea College, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)
26 May 1967 – Town Hall, Loughborough, Leicestershire with Mike Stuart Band (Fabulous 208/Leicester Mercury)
27 May 1967 – The Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with The Protection Racket (Birmingham Evening Mail)
10 June 1967 – Supreme Eastern Esplanade, Ramsgate, Kent with Len Marshall Show (East Kent Times & Mail)
11 June 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
13 June 1967 – Caius College, Oxford, Cambridge with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Fabulous 208) Disc & Music Echo has 14 June
17 June 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Fabulous 208/Melody Maker)
18 June 1967 – Brands Hatch Radio London Motor Racing and Pop Festival, Brands Hatch, Kent with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich and Episode Six (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
22 June 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, south Wales with The Powerstop Big Band and The King Bees (South Wales Evening Post)
23 June 1967 – Benn Memorial Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire with The Pesky Gee and The Legay (Rugby Advertiser)
24 June 1967 – Hull University, Hull (Disc & Music Echo)
25 June 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
30 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Syrian Blues and All Night Workers (Melody Maker)
7 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Chanters (Melody Maker)
9 July 1967 – Pavilion, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)
11 July 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
23 September 1967 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset (Fabulous 208)
24 September 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry, West Midlands with Legay (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
30 September 1967 – Bracknell Sports Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire with The Ziggy Turner Mob (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express/Bracknell News)
5 October 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
6 October 1967 – Queens Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool, County Durham with The Sect and The Tony King Sound (Hartlepool Mail)
7 October 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)
8 October 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London (Fabulous 208)
14 October 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208) 15 October 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Crewe Chronicle)
21 October 1967 – At the Union, Manchester with The Waterboard (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
22 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
23 October 1967 – Staffordshire Yeoman, Stafford (Stafford Newsletter)
28 October 1967 – Sheffield University, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
29 October 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
17 November 1967 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)
18 November 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Dual Purpose (East Kent Times & Mail)
22 November 1967 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
25 November 1967 – St James’ Spectacular, Chesterfield, Derbyshire with The Shape of The Rain (Derbyshire Times)
30 November 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
During December Pete Solley joined on keyboards.
1 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)
7 December 1967 – Marimba, Middlesbrough (Disc & Music Echo)
8 December 1967 – Crown & Cushion, Perry Barr, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
16 December 1967 – Westminster Technical College, Westminster, central London with Hamilton’s Blues Messengers (Melody Maker)
21 December 1967 – Central Hall, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (The Star)
23 December 1967 – Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London (Disc & Music Echo)
23 December 1967 – Lotus Ballroom, Forest Gate, east London (Newham & Stratford Express)
31 December 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
31 December 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, Bearwood, West Midlands (Express & Star)
1968
5 January 1968 – Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)
6 January 1968 – Southend gig (but not sure of venue) with support (Southend Standard)
7 January 1968 – Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
8 January 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Finders Keepers and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)
12 January 1968 – Leicester College of Education (Scraptoft), Leicester with Deuce Coupe and Pandoras Box (Fabulous 208/Leicester Mercury)
13 January 1968 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Frogg Moody and Richard Nash’s book Hold Tight!)
14 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Crawley Advertiser)
28 January 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
30 January 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
2 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Herd, The Move, Edwin Starr, Brian Auger Trinity, Julie Driscoll, Sammy Small, The Union Blues Rave Band, Th Accent (Yorkshire Evening Post)
19 February 1968 – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
25 February 1968 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
29 February 1968 – Zodiac Club, Eden Park Hotel, Beckenham, southeast London (Melody Maker)
3 March 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Friendly Apple (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
7 March 1968 – City of Coventry Confederation of Colleges, Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands with The Spencer Davis Group, St Louis Union and Piccadilly Line (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
8 March 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
16 March 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The New England Mood (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
16 March 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with Generation (Somerset County Gazette)
23 March 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with Generation (Western Gazette)
29 March 1968 – Crown and Cushion, Perry Barr, West Midlands with The Vogues (Birmingham Evening Mail)
31 March 1968 – 76 Club, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire (Burton Daily Mail)
1 April 1968 – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands with The Soul Express (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
12 April 1968 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Shades of Blue (City Week)
13 April 1968 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Taste (City Week)
20 April 1968 – Winter Gardens, Banbury, Oxfordshire with Wages of Sin (Brackley Advertiser)
21 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
27 April 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Le Gaye (East Kent Times)
28 April 1968 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
6 May 1968 – Queen Mary Ballroom, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Sound Syndicate (Express & Star)
8 May 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Leicester with Simon Peters (Leicester Mercury)
11 May 1968 – Kesteven College, Grantham, Lincolnshire with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs book)
According to Paul Griggs, Albert Lee did not appear at the above gig and he recommended his friend Alan Shacklock as a replacement when Lee left soon after.
17 May 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, southeast London with The Purple Dream (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
Shacklock auditioned at a pub in Islington around this time, by which point bass player Bruce Wadell had departed and Solley played the bass pedals on his Hammond.
24 May 1968 – Victoria & Bull, Dartford, Kent (Fabulous 208)
25 May 1968 – College of Technology, Slough, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)
1 June 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Granny’s Attic (Cambridgeshire Times)
9 June 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Keith Herd Group (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
Around this time Pete Solley left to join Los Bravos and Peter Robinson took over on keyboards. Bruce Waddell also returned to play bass.
14 June 1968 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland (City Week)
In mid July, Carl Palmer left to join The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Palmer recommended his friend John Bonham, who has been working with Tim Rose.
Bonham has already been approached to form a new band that will become Led Zeppelin but will perform with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds until late August.
20 July 1968 – Condor Club, Arbroath, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
27 July 1968 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Frogg Moody and Richard Nash’s book Hold Tight!)
1 August 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London (Melody Maker)
2 August 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, southeast London (Fabulous 208)
3 August 1968 – Seagull Ballroom, Ryde, Isle of Wight (Fabulous 208)
8 August 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Candy Choir (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
10 August 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
16 August 1968 – Boat House, Kew, west London (Thames Valley Times)
17 August 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
John Bonham left at the end of August to join The New Yardbirds who soon change name to Led Zeppelin.
Colin Davy, who has been playing with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, took his place.
31 August 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford (Fabulous 208)
2 September 1968 – Bank Holiday, Bluesology Festival, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Fleetwood Mac, The Move, The Freddy Mack Show and Family (Melody Maker)
2 September 1968 – Billing Aquadrome, Northamptonshire with Joe Cocker and Soul Committee (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
13 September 1968 – Victoria Cross, Wantage, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)
13 September 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with The Curiosity Shoppe (Warrington Guardian)
14 September 1968 – Drill Hall, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire with Donell Jackson and Broadway Crowd (Grantham Journal)
18 September 1968 – YMCA, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Fabulous 208)
21 September 1968 – Drill Hall, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire with Donnell Jackson and The Broadway Crowd (Grantham Journal/Leicester Mercury)
22 September 1968 – Tudor Club, Mercer’s Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
2 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
3 October 1968 – Broken Wheel, Macclesfield (Fabulous 208)
4 October 1968 – Goldsmith College, New Cross Gate, London (Fabulous 208)
13 October 1968 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
18 October 1968 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, London (Fabulous 208)
19 October 1968 – Bangor University, Bangor, Wales (Fabulous 208)
1 November 1968 – Brunel University, Uxbridge, London (Melody Maker)
3 November 1968 – Bridge Place Country Club, Bridge near Canterbury, Kent (Kent Herald)
13-14 December 1968 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News)
19 December 1968 – Shipley Club, Watton, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)
22 December 1968 – Bird Cage, Harlow, Essex (Fabulous 208)
28 December 1968 – Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with The Basin Street Jump Band (Malvern Gazette)
1969
17 January 1969 – Teachers Training College, Edgbaston, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
18 January 1969 – St Mary’s Technical College, Twickenham, west London (Fabulous 208)
19 January 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
23 January 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Frogg Moody and Richard Nash’s book Hold Tight!)
1 February 1969 – Hatfield College, Hatfield, Herts (Fabulous 208)
7 February 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
8 February 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Dream Police (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)
14 February 1969 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
16 February 1969 – Carousel Club, Piccadilly, central London (Fabulous 208)
1 March 1969 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
9 March 1969 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (website: http://www.76club.org.uk/gigs.html) This may be Farlowe’s final gig with The Thunderbirds – Melody Maker notes 9 March was the last one.
When the band split, Alan Shacklock went on to play with Babe Ruth. The rest of the band recorded as The Hill.
Many thanks to Alan Shacklock for his help in clarifying the band’s final lineups.
Lead guitarist Gary Boyle, bass player Roger Sutton, keyboard player Ray Deville, drummer Clive Thacker and sax players Dave Quincy and Ian Thomas had backed singer Brian Bentley as Brian Bentley & The Kingsmen during 1962.
In early 1963, the remaining members (minus Quincy and Thomas) became The Five Embers after ditching Brian Bentley and recruiting sax player Ron Foster. Initially, the musicians played under their own name and then in March 1964 started backing Jamaican singer Millie.
Notable gigs as The Five Embers:
22 March 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
24 March 1964 – Café Des Artistes, Fulham, London
Notable gigs with Millie Small:
25 March 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent
28 March 1964 – Café Des Artistes, Fulham, London
29 March 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
31 March 1964 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Bucks
5-11 April 1964 – Cavern, Liverpool
16 May 1964 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Initials
17 May 1964 – Blackpool ABC, Blackpool, Lancashire
18 May 1964 – Scarborough Futurist, Scarborough with others
5 June 1964 – Palace Ballroom, Maryport, Cumbria with The Defenders
16 June 1964 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Soul Agents
27 August 1964 – ABC Theatre, Plymouth, Cornwall with Rolling Stones and others
After splitting with Millie, The Five Embers continued to gig into 1965 before breaking up that spring and at some point backed Barry St John.
In August 1966, Clive Thacker joined Julie Driscol, Brian Auger & The Trinity and was joined two months later by Roger Sutton.
While Thacker remained with Brian Auger and Julie Driscol throughout the late 1960s, Sutton left in May 1967 and played with several groups before briefly joining The Krew in August 1968.
Roger Sutton subsequently played with a number of notable bands, including The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Nucleus, Mark-Almond and Riff Raff.
Gary Boyle initially played with Lulu’s backing band during 1965. Then, in 1966, he worked with Dusty Springfield’s support group, The Echoes before reuniting with Roger Sutton and Clive Thacker in Julie Driscol, Brian Auger and The Trinity in January 1967.
After leaving in November of that year, Boyle subsequently played with Eclection in March 1969 and then returned to Julie Driscol and The Brian Auger Trinity that June.
Ray Deville meanwhile joined The Missing Links in February 1966 and stayed with this band when it took on the name, The All Night Workers in October 1967. He left in January 1968 and is rumoured to have worked with Dusty Springfield. Deville died in 2013.
Please note: this is a very brief overview of the band and its history. Garage Hangover would welcome any additional material and corrections.
Mike Collins’s interviews with Roger Sutton and Gary Boyle were really useful resources. Please see above links to his work.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
18 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
15 October 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Crewe Chronicle)
