Photo: Michael Claxton. The Trend backing The Soul Sisters at Tiles on 21 April 1967
The Soul Sisters were an American soul duet consisting of Thresia Cleveland-Fitch and Ann Gissendanner, who recorded for Sue Records. They first toured Britain in 1964 and then returned in 1965 followed by three tours between late 1966 and late 1967.
Record Retailer and Music Industry News’ 3 September 1964 issue reports that Sue recording artistes The Soul Sisters will visit Britain on 10 November for a week of TV, radio and club dates. The music paper says the duo toured with Manfred Mann from 17-23 November and were backed by The Spencer Davis Group.
Melody Maker, 10 April 1965, page 4
Melody Maker reports that The Soul Sisters arrived in Britain on 28 May 1965 for their second tour and were backed on all dates by The Brian Auger Trinity (there is a CD of recordings).
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
28 May 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (two sessions, including an all-nighter) (Melody Maker)
2 June 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, southeast London (Melody Maker)
5 June 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
5 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (two sessions including an all-nighter) (Melody Maker)
16 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Says last London appearance
In late 1966, The Soul Sisters returned to Britain for their third tour, booked by promoter Roy Tempest.
It looks like Tempest used a number of bands to support the duo, including the Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia outfit, The Canadians who at the time comprised: Bobby Faulds (vocals); David Foster (keyboards/vocals); Mike Stymest (bass); Wes Chambers (sax); Rich England (sax); Billy Stewart (trumpet/trombone); and Barry Casson (drums).
During December, The Canadians backed The Original Drifters on a tour, so it’s not clear whether they would have been available for the first three London gigs and the Manchester show below.
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
30 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
30 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Broodly Hoo (Melody Maker)
30 December 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)
31 December 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with The Alan Bown Set and Cock a Hoops (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
31 December 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Prowlers, The Beechwoods, The Tatters, The States, The Klubs, The Kids, The Signs, The Times, The Hideaways, The Shades and The Canadians (Liverpool Echo) Most likely backed by The Canadians
1 January 1967 – Oasis, Manchester with Steve Aldo & The Fix (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Fix
1 January 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Chester Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Canadians
6 January 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Statesiders (not the west London group)
6 January 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Statesiders
7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Lincolnshire Echo) Possibly backed by The Canadians
8 January 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Backed by The Canadians
11 January 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Canadians
12 January 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with Erskine The T (Birmingham Evening Mail) Possibly backed by The Statesiders
13 January 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester with The Puppets (Leicester Mercury) Possibly backed by The Statesiders
14 January 1967 – Plebians, Cheapside, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Halifax Evening Courier & Guardian)
14 January 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (all-nighter) (www.kingmojostory.com)
15 January 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Melody Maker)
The Newham & Stratford Express newspaper’s 28 April 1967 issue notes that The Trend are backing The Soul Sisters on a two-week tour (their fourth British tour), arranged by Roy Tempest. It’s most likely they provided backing on most of the tour although they did leave for West Germany before the tour ended.
At this point, The Trend comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Michael Claxton (keyboards/vocals); Phil Duke (bass); and Frankie Morgan (drums).
It’s possible that west London group, The Sovereigns completed the tour after The Trend left Britain. An advert in the Nottingham Evening Post for The Sovereigns’ gig at the Dungeon in Nottingham on 16 July lists them as Soul Sisters’ backing group.
Originally from Hillingdon, The Sovereigns comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Mick Tomich (bass); Brian Johnston (keyboards); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
30 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) This date seems unlikely considering the gap between it and the second show
14 April 1967 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey (Aldershot News/Reading Evening Post) Most likely backed by The Trend
15 April 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Symbols, Root and Jenny Jackson, The Hightimers and The Caribbean Steel Band (Nottingham Evening Post/Spalding Guardian) Most likely backed by The Trend
18 April 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with supporting group (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely backed by The Trend
21 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Love Affair (Newham & Stratford Express) Definitely backed by The Trend/confirmed by Michael Claxton’s picture of the band with the two singers at the club
22 April 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire with The Bizarre (David Allen Research) Allen confirms The Trend were backing band but originally The Senate were billed
Original advert in Portsmouth News showing The SenateRevised advert showing The Trend
22 April 1967 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London (Newham & Stratford Express) Backed by The Trend
26 April 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Newham & Stratford Express) Backed by The Trend
27 April 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Toggery and The Canadians (Evening Sentinel) Final gig backed by The Trend who drive to West Berlin after the show, according to Michael Claxton
28 April 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Barry Noble & The Sapphires (Melody Maker/http://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
29 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Worcester News) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
29 April 1967 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
30 April 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with American backing band and Harry Brown Sound (Chester Chronicle/Crewe Chronicle) Possibly backed by The Sovereigns
For The Soul Sisters’ fifth British tour, it looks like The Clockwork Oranges, who’d previously backed The Fabulous Temptations (aka The Fantastics) and Garnet Mimms did most of the backing. However, The Trend did play some shows.
Pip Williams, guitarist with The Clockwork Oranges (previously The Sovereigns) confirms they backed The Soul Sisters.
By this point, The Clockwork Oranges comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Ron Thomas (bass); Brian Johnston (keyboards); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums)
At this stage, The Trend had also undergone some personnel changes. The line-up now comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Cliff Reuter (keyboards); Pete Cole (bass/vocals); and Frankie Morgan (drums). It’s also possible that Bob Mather (sax) from The Senate may have joined by this point or during the tour.
The following tour dates are incomplete
Tour dates:
5 October 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside with Clockwork Orange, Duane Eddy, Bobby & The Rebels, Garnet Mimms and The Senate (Hull Daily Mail) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
6 October 1967 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Lancashire with Earl Preston’s Reflections and The Millers (Liverpool Echo)
7 October 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales with The Raynes (Chester Chronicle)
7 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Manchester with The Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
8 October 1967 – Vaudeville & Georgian, Salford, Greater Manchester with backing group (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) The Clockwork Oranges backed Garnet Mimms in Barnsley on this date
10 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Silverstone Set (Evening Sentinel)
11 October 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Clockwork Orange (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
12 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Pip Williams confirms that The Clockwork Oranges backed the singers at this show
14 October 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Tages, The Amboy Dukes and The Clockwork Oranges (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Clockwork Oranges
The John Peel Wiki page notes that The Soul Sisters backed by The Clockwork Orange(s) recorded a Peel session on 16 October, which was first broadcast on 22 October. The Clockwork Orange(s) cut two tracks separately: “Three Time Loser” and “Bring Me Home Love”. Five other tracks were cut with The Soul Sisters – “You Got ‘em Beat Baby”, “Hold On”, “Blueberry Hill”, “Soulful Dress” and “I Can’t Stand It”.
17 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
20 October 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with The Trend, The Isley Brothers and Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend unless they backed Isley Brothers
20 October 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with The Trend, The Isley Brothers and Clockwork Oranges (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by The Trend unless they backed Isley Brothers
21 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Ben E King (Melody Maker) Backed by The Trend unless The Clockwork Oranges backed both Ben E King and The Soul Sisters
22 October 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Pitiful Souls (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Backed by The House of Orange (aka The Clockwork Oranges)
22 October 1967 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Backed by The House of Orange (aka The Clockwork Oranges)
We’d welcome any further information that readers can provide in the comments below
The “Original Drifters” had been formed in 1958 by Bill Pinkley after the bass singer and first tenor had been fired from The Drifters by its manager George Treadwell, who’d taken ownership of The Drifters’ name after original lead singer Clyde McPhatter had left.
Although Treadwell legally owned The Drifters brand, four former Drifters – Pinkley, lead tenor singer David Baughan plus brothers, second tenor singer Gerhart Thrasher and baritone singer Andrew Thrasher wanted to keep performing under the name and started to tour as The “Original Drifters” once Pinkney had secured legal ownership of this brand name.
Pinkney’s rival version was never as commercially successful as The Drifters, who’d continued under Treadwell’s direction (albeit with changing personnel, including Ben E King for a short period), but was able to capitalise on the parent name when British promoter Roy Tempest brought Pinkney’s “Original Drifters” over for the first of many British tours, kicking off in January 1966 (just over six months after Treadwell’s The Drifters had performed in Britain – see separate entry here).
Pinkney’s efforts to promote his rival version in Britain was made easier when George Treadwell suddenly died in May 1967.
I would like to credit US music historian Marv Goldberg for his painstaking work in piecing The “Original Drifters” history together here . Like The Drifters, this rival band had many personnel changes and it hasn’t been easy determining who participated in each British tour, so we’d welcome any feedback.
It also doesn’t help that from the spring of 1967 promoter Roy Tempest, who organised all of these tours, started to pass fake groups off as the real thing, starting with The Invitations, who he booked as The “Original Drifters” (and The Drifters).
In the summer of 1967, Tempest brought over The Fabulous Temptations – who were, in fact, The Velours and later renamed The Fantastics – and in the autumn of that year, The Marvelettes – who were, in fact, The Gypsies and later renamed The Flirtations.
When The “Original Drifters” toured Britain for the first time, the line-up most likely comprised:
Bobby Lee Hollis – lead tenor/baritone
Bobby Hendricks – second lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
For this first tour, it’s not clear which British rock band(s) Roy Tempest booked to back The “Original Drifters”. Often, he would book one group to do the honours but due to the large number of gigs typically involved and their geographical spread, he would also use other groups on his books to fulfil individual gigs or even split a tour between two-three bands.
However, the list below does name The Trendsetters Ltd on few gigs and they do appear to have also appeared with The “Original Drifters” on the second tour, so it seems fair to presume they were the main backing group on this first tour by Bill Pinkney’s version.
Bournemouth band The Trendsetters Ltd comprised future King Crimson members Michael Giles (drums) and Peter Giles (bass) alongside Allan Azern (piano); Bruce Turner (guitar); and Mike Blakesley (trombone).
We would welcome any comments in the box at the end from anyone who can shed light on this tour and any others listed below.
For each tour listed below I’ve listed the main group providing the backing at the start, some notable facts, and then named other bands where it’s known they did the honours.
Tour dates:
14 January 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker)
15 January 1966 – Oasis Club, Manchester (Melody Maker)
15 January 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with The Ram Jam Band (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
19 January 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely local group The Sons of Adam backed them here
22 January 1966 – The Macador, Roseberry Place, Dalston Junction, east London (Melody Maker)
22 January 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London (Record Mirror)
23 January 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)
29 January 1966 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with The Trendsetters Ltd, The Notions and The Exiles (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle/Runcorn Guardian)
29 January 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms, The Hideaways, The Fix, The Plain and Fancy, The Richmond, The Sect and The Trendsetters Ltd (Liverpool Echo) Says first Liverpool appearance
30 January 1966 – Riverboat Theatre Club, Salford, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
For this next “Original Drifters” tour, the formation was most likely the same as the previous one few months earlier:
Bobby Lee Hollis – lead tenor/baritone
Bobby Hendricks – second lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
Melody Maker reports that the soul quartet arrived on 6 May and stayed until the end of the month.
On this tour, Bournemouth group, The Trendsetters Ltd (see line up listed above) provided backing again for most, if not, all dates.
Tour dates:
6 May 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
6 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Trendsetters Ltd and Steve Darbyshire & The Yum Yum Band (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
7 May 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Trendsetters Ltd and The Cortinas (Herts & Essex Observer) Billed as The Drifters
11 May 1966 – Mecca Pavilion Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants with The Trendsetters Ltd (Southern Daily Echo)
12 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
13 May 1966 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex with Trendsetters Ltd, The Defiants and The Creatures (Poster on Facebook) Billed as The Original Drifters
13 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
14 May 1966 – Iron Door, Liverpool with The Hideaways, The Dark Ages, The Fix, The Aztecs, The Kop, Solomon’s Mines, The Trendsetters Ltd and Billy Butler (Liverpool Echo)
15 May 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Drifters
16 May 1966 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Trendsetters Ltd and The Escorts (Runcorn Guardian)
18 May 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
19 May 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
21 May 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Drifters
24 May 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
27 May 1966 – Flamingo (two sessions, including an all-nighter), Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
28 May 1966 – King Mojo all-nighter, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Mike Cotton Sound starring Little Lucas (Sheffield Star) Billed as The Drifters
28 May 1966 – The Union, Manchester with The Trendsetters Limited (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Drifters
5 June 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Powerhouse Six and Gary Farr & The T-bones (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com) Says backed by Manchester’s Powerhouse Six
For this third “Original Drifters” tour in 1966 (I have only found a handful of gigs), the formation most likely comprised the following:
Bobby Lee Hollis – lead tenor/baritone
Bobby Hendricks – second lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
Tour dates:
7 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Noblemen/Motivation. Sax player Chris Rodger and keyboard player Mick Ketley both confirm they did at least one gig with The Original Drifters and there is an advert that lists them as having backed them recently The other members were Jimmy Marsh (vocals); Bryan Stevens (bass); Malcolm Tomlinson (drums); and future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre
Motivation gig from Norwich, mid-October 1966 that references The Drifters
16 October 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Moved to 23 October
27 October 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
For this final “Original Drifters” tour in 1966, the formation most likely comprised the same line up as the previous one in October:
Bobby Lee Hollis – lead tenor/baritone
Bobby Hendricks – second lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
The Kettering Advertiser contains an article on The Canadians (formerly Bobby Faulds & The Strangers, a group from Victoria, Vancouver Island, who arrived in England in October) in one of its December 1966 issues and lists them as The “Original Drifters” backing band on a ten-day tour.
The Canadians’ contract with Roy Tempest mentioning The Drifters. Kettering Leader, 9 December 1966, page 8
It’s fair to presume therefore that they appeared on all the December dates below.
At the time, the group comprised Bobby Faulds (aka Bobby Hanna) (lead vocals); David Foster (keyboards/vocals); Mike Stymest (bass); Wes Chambers (sax); Rich England (sax); Billy Stewart (trumpet/trombone); and Barry Casson (drums). David Foster would later become a hugely successful songwriter and producer.
Tour dates:
10 December 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Drifters
11 December 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with The Bystanders (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
13 December 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com) Possibly with The Canadians (9-piece). This was originally booked for 6 December but moved.
25 December 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with The In Crowd (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Canadians (says 9-piece band still)
For The “Original Drifters’” first tour in 1967, the formation most likely comprised the following judging by the line-up on their May 1967 single. However, Marv Goldberg notes that lead tenor David Baughan did return intermittently to the group throughout 1967, so he may have taken either Hollis’ or Hendricks’ place.
Bobby Lee Hollis – lead tenor/baritone
Bobby Hendricks – second lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
It’s not clear which band provided backing on this particular tour, but The Canadians are listed on a few so it’s possible that they did most of the March shows listed below. By this point, the group’s horn section had returned home to British Columbia and the line up comprised Bobby Faulds (aka Bobby Hanna) (lead vocals); David Foster (keyboards/vocals); Mike Stymest (bass); and Barry Casson (drums) alongside English singer Barry Noble.
18 March 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Canadians, The Sound Society and The Solents (Evening Sentinel) Most likely backed by The Canadians as they are listed on the bill
19 March 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Drifters
22 March 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hants (Portsmouth News) Billed as The Original Drifters
23 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
24 March 1967 – Roaring 20’s Club, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters.
25 March 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
28 March 1967 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
1 April 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Mike Curtis Set and Pete Doyle and Dave Eager (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
This next tour in 1967 looks like it might have been the first “Original Drifters” tour that Roy Tempest used The Invitations and passed them off as The Drifters. At this point, The Invitations comprised lead tenor singer Herman Cofield plus Robert (Bobby) Rivers, William (Bill) Morris and Gary Gant.
It’s not clear who provided backing but Scottish group The Scots of St James, who’d recently backed Lee Dorsey on a British tour during March, are listed as backing group on one of the shows below.
Drummer Stuart Francis recalls them also playing US airbases in West Germany with The “Original Drifters” while working for Roy Tempest (most likely May/June). At the time of the West German dates, The Scots of St James comprised Jimmy Oakley (lead vocals); Owen “Onnie” McIntyre (lead guitar); Graham Maitland (keyboards); Alan Gorrie (bass/vocals); and Stuart Francis (drums). Both McIntyre and Gorrie would subsequently find fame with The Average White Band.
Tour dates:
19 April 1967 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London (David Else’s research)
24 April 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Scots of St James and The Escorts (Evening Sentinel) Backed by The Scots of St James. Billed as The Drifters
26 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Worcester News) The Garage Hangover entry on the Blue Moon lists this as potentially being The Invitations
29 April 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
This next tour (in June 1967) may have been just after The “Original Drifters” (presumably Bill Pinkney’s version) had played US Airbases in West Germany with The Scots of St James.
The Trend’s lead guitarist Norman Cummins confirms that the Dagenham, east London group backed three different formations of The (Original) Drifters during 1967-1968 and the frequency of this soul outfit touring Britain reflects the fact that clearly this wasn’t the same group of singers on each tour.
The Newham & Stratford Express newspaper’s 20 June 1967 issue confirms The Trend backed The Original Drifters during June.
When The Trend backed The “Original Drifters” on this particular tour, the formation comprised Wade Maddison (lead vocals); Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Michael Claxton (keyboards/vocals); Phil Duke (bass); and Frankie Morgan (drums).
This June tour looks like it was with Bill Pinkney’s version judging by the Flamingo gig listed below on 10 June, which interestingly has backing provided by The Sovereigns, a west London group who Roy Tempest employed to back The Fabulous Temptations (later renamed The Fantastics) in September that year.
The Sovereigns featured future session guitarist/producer Pip Williams and also comprised Roy St John-Foster (lead vocals); Mich Tomich (bass); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).
For this “Original Drifters” tour, the formation possibly comprised:
David Baughan – lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
Andrew Thrasher – baritone (he did return briefly in the second half of 1967)
Tour dates:
10 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
10 June 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Sovereigns, The All-Nite Walkers (aka Workers), Bobby Johnson & The Atoms and Toni Rocket (Melody Maker) Backed by The Sovereigns and billed as Bill Pinkney & The Original Drifters
15 June 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Backed by The Trend. Billed as The Original Drifters
For this next tour, it looks like it was The Invitations again that masqueraded as The “Original Drifters”, judging by the photo and article in the Rhyl & Prestatyn Gazette, 14 July 1967.
It also looks like The Trend were the backing group (or did most of the backing) judging by the gig on 8 July listed below and also the reference in the above article regarding the Prestatyn gig. The Trend’s line up hadn’t changed since the previous one in June.
Tour dates:
1 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Manchester with supporting bill (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
1 July 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
2 July 1967 – Warmingham Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Nantwich Chronicle)
5 July 1967 – Club Riverboat, Salford, Greater Manchester with backing band (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters with 7-piece American band
8 July 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Six Across and The Charades (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Trend. Billed as The Original Drifters
9 July 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Southgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Billed as The Original Drifters
11 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
15 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
15 July 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, north Wales (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette) Photo shows its The Invitations!
By September, The Trend’s original bass player/singer Pete Cole had returned to the fold. The group’s lead guitarist Norman Cummins kept a diary and the following are all listed (and confirmed by various newspapers). When they are confirmed by papers, I’ve just listed the newspapers but they are all in Cummins’ diary.
At this point, The Trend comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals); Cliff Reuter (keyboards); Pete Cole (bass/vocals); and Frankie Morgan (drums). They provided backing on all of the gigs below.
The Woking Herald newspaper lists the Walton Hop (Playhouse) gig below on 16 September and the photo that appears as part of a featured article on The “Original Drifters” shows it was, in fact, The Invitations on this September tour.
Woking Herald article
Tour dates:
14 September 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with The Ray King Soul Band, Tiny Davies Souls A-Go-Go and The Honey Band (Hull Daily Mail)
15 September 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
15 September 1967 – Co-op Ballroom, Doncaster, South Yorkshire with The Trendsetters, Travellers Express, The Six Shades of Blue (Retford, Gainsborough and Worksop Times)
16 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, West Midlands (Norman Cummins’ diary/Birmingham Evening Mail)
16 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Norman Cummins’ diary/Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as The Drifters
16 September 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham with The Gravey Train (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as The Drifters
17 September 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London (Norman Cummins’ diary) Billed as The Original Drifters
17 September 1967 – Club West Indies, Stoneleigh Park, Harlesden, northwest London (Norman Cummins’ diary) Billed as The Original Drifters
19 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Norman Cummins’ diary) Billed as The Original Drifters
20 September 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
21 September 1967 – Locarno, Streatham, southwest London (Norman Cummins’ diary)
22 September 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with full backing group (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
22 September 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with full backing group (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
22 September 1967 – Dino’s, Liverpool (Norman Cummins’ diary) This gig was cancelled
23 September 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Silverstone Set, Dave Eager and Peter Doyle (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
23 September 1967 – Paradise, Wigan, Lancashire with The Trends, The Hideaways and The Country Five (Liverpool Echo)
23 September 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Norman Cummins’ diary)
24 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Norman Cummins’ diary)
24 September 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire (Norman Cummins’ diary)
27 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Manchester Playboys (Evening Sentinel)
29 September 1967 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
30 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Cats Pyjamas, The Trend, Magic Roundabout and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Echo/Spalding Guardian)
30 September 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with Pesky Gee (Leicester Mercury) Billed as The Original Drifters
1 October 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Garnet Mimms and The Senate (Nottingham Evening Post)
2 October 1967 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Trend, Garnet Mimms and The Senate (Runcorn Guardian)
This next set of gigs could have been by Bill Pinkley’s version and was most likely The Trend again as guitarist Norman Cummins and bass player Pete Cole recall backing three different formations of the soul group. However, The Soul Survivors provided backing on 28 October gig below.
However, the Woking Herald article above mentions The Invitations version travelling to Munich for a week and then returning for a second British tour.
If the gigs below were by Pinkley’s version, then the formation most likely comprised the following as this was the line-up in late 1967, according to Marv Goldberg:
Bobby Lee Hollis – lead tenor/baritone
Bobby Hendricks – second lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Gerhart Thrasher – second tenor
Tour dates:
14 October 1967 – Faculty of Technology Union, Manchester with supporting groups (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Drifters
14 October 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Rogues and Dave Eager and Pete Doyle (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
15 October 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
21 October 1967 – Golden Disc, Keighley, West Yorkshire (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Billed as The Original Drifters
22 October 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as The Drifters
24 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, Central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
24 October 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
25 October 1967 – Empire Hall, Hamworthy, Dorset with The Gates of Eden (https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/gigs) This may be a British band called The Drifters and not the US soul act although The Gates of Eden had backed Lee Dorsey in October 1966 and were on Roy Tempest’s books
28 October 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soul Survivors, Ferris Wheel with Diane Feraz and The Purple Barrier (Lincolnshire Echo) Backed by The Soul Survivors and billed as The Original Drifters
29 October 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Surrey Mirror & County Post) Billed as The Original Drifters
4 November 1967 – Vaudeville Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
Marv Goldberg says that in late 1967, Bobby Lee Hollis, Bobby Hendricks and Gerhart Thrasher informed Bill Pinkney that they wanted to settle down, so he put together the first of several entirely new versions. The first involved Atlanta group, The Teals.
It’s not clear which British band provided the backing on the first shows but The London All-Stars assumed duties soon into the tour and honoured the rest. This may be the group associated with drummer Bobby Graham but we’d welcome any further details on this band and its personnel.
For this next “Original Drifters” tour, the formation probably comprised:
Benny Anderson– lead tenor
Bill Pinkney – bass
Wallace “George” Ezzard – second tenor
Albert Fortson – baritone
Mark Williams – guitar
Tour dates:
23 February 1968 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Clockwork Orange, The Hooker Green and The Astronauts (Shropshire Journal) Billed as The Original Drifters
26 February 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
27 February 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
2 March 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Inner Mind, Dave Eager and Pete Doyle (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
2 March 1968 – Paradise, Wigan, Lancashire with The Chants and three top acts (Liverpool Echo)
3 March 1968 – Vaudeville Club, Manchester with The Locomotion Band, Phil Kelly and Jack Diamond (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
5 March 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
Definitely from this point on, The London All-Stars provided backing
8 March 1968 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with The London All-Stars (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
8 March 1968 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester with The London All-Stars (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
9 March 1968 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with The London All-Stars (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Says last night of tour so were the dates below yet another version or a tour extension?
13 March 1968 – Mardi Gras Club, Liverpool with The Seftons and The Vix (Liverpool Echo)
16 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The London All-Stars, Terry Reid’s Fantasia and The Rock and Rolling Barons (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as The Original Drifters
17 March 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with The Executives (Evening Sentinel/Winsford Chronicle)
17 March 1968 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
18 March 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Club, Ipswich, Suffolk with The London All-Stars (Ipswich Star) Billed as The Original Drifters
23 March 1968 – Paradise, Wigan, Lancashire with The Troubles Show Group and two top acts (Liverpool Echo)
24 March 1968 – Georgian Club, Manchester with The London All-Stars (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Says last night in Britain so were the dates below yet another version or yet another tour extension?
25 March 1968 – 99 Cabaret Club, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria with The London All-Stars, Jack Barker and The Brass Impact with Julie Day and Tony Flanagan (The Mail – Millom and South Copeland Ed)
29 March 1968 – Tabernacle Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
30 March 1968 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Clywd, Wales with The Raynes and London All-Stars (Chester Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
30 March 1968 – The Place Club, Manchester with The London All-Stars and The Trend (Manchester Evening News)
31 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Jo Jo Gunne (Surrey Mirror & County Post) Billed as The Original Drifters
3 April 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire with The Impressions (Southern Evening Echo) Billed as The Drifters
4 April 1968 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire (Worcester News) Billed as The Drifters
5 April 1968 – Farnborough Technical College, Farnborough, Hants with Mickey Finn and Skye Wine (Aldershot News)
6 April 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Times (Chester Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
7 April 1968 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Says farewell appearance so were the dates below yet another version or a tour extension?
9 April 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
13 April 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester with Watson Brown and Doyle & Eager (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
13 April 1968 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
14 April 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The London All-Stars (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
15 April 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The London All Stars, Milton James & The Harlem Knockout and The Jaytree Organisation (Cheshire Chronicle) Billed as The Original Drifters
16 April 1968 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
26 April 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
Marv Goldberg says that when Bill Pinkney and the latest version of The “Original Drifters” (made up of Atlanta group, The Teals) returned to the US, The Teals split away and started touring as The “Original Drifters”. Apparently, they toured for about 10 years before Pinkney was able to stop them, so it’s possible they may have returned to Britain and played further tours separately!
However, Goldberg says that Pinkney did put together an entirely new version in 1968 with Bruce Caeser (tenor); Clarence Walker (tenor/baritone); and Tony “Duke” Richardson (baritone).
For this next “Original Drifters” tour, the formation could have comprised this line up, although I’ve only found this one gig so perhaps the tour didn’t happen?
Tour dates:
30 September 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser) Billed as The Original Drifters
Melody Maker lists the following members of the band for the next British tour.
These three musicians were part of The Invitations, masquerading as The “Original Drifters”. This tour corresponds with a recollection that fan Sylvia has left here.
She remembers meeting The Shirelles at a London nightclub while travelling with The “Original Drifters”. This was most likely Hatchetts Playground in Piccadilly where The Shirelles played in December 1968.
Herman Cofield – lead tenor
Robert Rivers
William Morris
+ (missing but a member)
Gary Gant
Tour dates:
11 December 1968 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Funky Fever and Johnny Farlowe (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters and says featuring Herman Cofield, Robert Rivers and William Morris
It is not clear which versions toured on the following dates in 1969 but quite possibly The Invitations again as Roy Tempest did bring them back multiple times.
Tour dates:
28 April 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom’s book Rockin’ and around Croydon)
2 May 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
Tour dates:
25 October 1969 – Queen Mary College, Mile End, east London with Audience (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
Tour dates:
3 December 1969 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex (Melody Maker) Billed as The Original Drifters
7 December 1969 – The Bull, East Sheen, southwest London (Melody Maker)
12 December 1969 – Assembly Rooms, York, North Yorkshire with Percy Sledge (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
20 December 1969 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Drifters
Tour dates:
30 May 1970 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with Orange Rainbow (North Shropshire Journal) Billed as The Original Drifters and backed by Orange Rainbow. This photo shows this is The Invitations
We would welcome any recollections in the comments below
Thanks to Dave Clemo for providing the contents of this entry, including the extensive gig list at the end
This is the story of The Tin Hat, Kettering’s legendary music venue. Between 1967 and 1969 many of the UK’s finest bands performed there.
This account is taken from Back Street Genius by Dave Clemo, with Roger Kinsey and Mavis Tompkins.
The book is the first of two books about legendary recording studio owner/engineer Derek Tompkins.
The roll call of musicians and producers who had their first studio experience at Derek’s Shield and Beck Studios include Queen bass player John Deacon; Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden; and world famous record producers of the calibre of Max Norman, Trevor Horn and David Foster.
Copies of Back Street Genius can be ordered from Waterstones and Rough Trade. It is also available as an eBook.
The Tin Hat was a corrugated iron clad steel framed building that had originally been opened in 1900 as the Athletic Club. It was nestled in the shadow of the town’s football ground. The facilities were almost non-existent and eventually the decision was taken to open a new club along the road.
The new building had a large car park and the rear doors opened onto the stage which made loading in very easy for the groups that performed there. It opened for business in April 1967 and the old hut was consigned to history.
A few weeks later Derek Tompkins’ brother Brian reopened The Tin Hat as a music venue. He removed the old central bar and built a stage at one end. It proved to be very popular from the outset, so much so that both Derek and his wife Mavis came in most Saturday nights to help behind the bar.
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
The opening night was June 10th, 1967. The club opened on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with a live band (or two) on a Saturday night and discos on the other nights. This fitted in well with The Works, the other regular music venue in Wellington Street. Their live music nights were on Sunday and Monday nights.
Very few photos of the venue exist. The smell of the interior must have been a heady mixture of tobacco smoke and warm beer, and no doubt the floor would have been pretty sticky by the end of the evening.
The disco nights featured Brian (Tompkins Sound) and Mavis’ brother Alan (Allan D). They used Derek Tompkins’ hand built Shield disco gear and it wasn’t long before they were performing at other well-known venues like the Nag’s Head at Wollaston or the George at Wilby.
Mavis Tompkins wrote: “Brian used to book some of the most famous soul and Motown bands of the time. Most of the Tompkins family got involved, from Brian’s wife (another Mavis), on the door, to his older kids on the cloakroom and glass collecting duties.
Derek and I would help behind the bar with serving drinks and glass washing, which involved dunking empty beer glasses into an ice-cold sink full of murky water as fast as we were able.
Our tasks included sweeping the filthy debris and beer-soaked floors and toilets afterwards. Mavis, Brian’s wife, had to be a pretty tough cookie, dealing with clashes from mods and rockers etc., and was famous for knocking out one belligerent customer who ended up in hospital!”
Derek later wrote: “It was always full to capacity every Saturday night, supposedly with around 200-300 punters, but it was more like 600! Brian booked a host of big stars: including Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.”
Fake bands
In the mid sixties the Roy Tempest Organisation was one of the UK’s biggest music promoters and agents. The Canadians (featuring a very young David Foster on keyboards) signed with them in late 1966 and went to work backing visiting US acts like Chuck Berry.
However, there was another side to the agency. They regularly brought in unknown US acts and passed them off as Motown groups. The groups were tribute acts, sometimes but not always containing an original band member.
Tempest got around the law by subtly changing their names, calling them ‘The Fabulous Temptations’ or the ‘Original Drifters’.
Bill Pinkney was an original member of The Drifters dating back to 1953 and sang bass on many of their hit records. He and the group toured the UK three times in 1966.
Pinkney was back in the UK in 1967, this time accompanied by three singers who had never been Drifters at all. They were the unknown US band The Invitations. This was the line-up that played the Tin Hat on Friday September 29th.
The music press was soon up in arms. A reporter from Disc took it up with Tempest who argued that the promoters knew only too well they are not getting the real group. He claimed it was OK because he knew of five sets of Drifters touring the US at that time.
Tempest supplied several more acts for the Tin Hat in 1967/8, including ‘The Fabulous Temptations’ on September 15th, 1967 (actually the Fantastics who had recently changed their name from The Velours).
James & Bobby Purify appeared on February 3rd, 1968. It’s quite possible that the February 17th appearance by Edwin Starr was yet another tribute act. Tempest also had a Mary Wells and a Fontella Bass act. They were the same singer.
My co-author Roger Kinsey remembers going to The Gaiety in Ramsey to see The Isley Brothers in February 1968. Were they the genuine article? Nobody knew what the genuine band looked like, and that was good enough for Tempest.
Motown eventually took legal action against him when they discovered that The Fantastics were being passed off as The Temptations and the resulting court case ended with Tempest’s bankruptcy.
Between 1967 and 1969 the Tin Hat was an important part of Kettering’s entertainment and night life. Every weekend the venue was packed to the rafters with people out to enjoy a good time. The acts that Brian booked covered almost every genre from Blues and Prog to Soul and Pop, and even jazz for a few weeks during the summer of 1967. The club was usually open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with live bands on Saturdays. Some of the descriptions of the groups make interesting reading half a century later.
People travelled to the venue from Rothwell, Desborough and Corby and from Christmas 1967 the club laid on late buses to get everyone home. The management of the club changed hands early in 1969 and an era was at an end. The venue continued for a few more years but mainly concentrated on Soul/Motown.
I looked through every back issue of the Kettering Evening Telegraph between 1962 and 1969 while researching Back Street Genius and photographed every advert for the Tin Hat.
Here is the complete list of shows
1967
Saturday, June 10th Horatio Soul & the Square Deals Show plus, Yvonne the limbo dancer and the Q Men (opening night)
Sunday, June 11th (Fontana recording artists) The Night People plus The Trax
Friday, June 16th (from Coventry) Inside Out
Saturday, June 17th (from the USA) Winston G backed by The Set plus The Ironsides
Sunday, June 18th (Top surfing performers) Deuce Coupe
Friday, June 23rd Dimples plus Updown Round Sound (from Oxford)
Saturday, June 24th (Surfing harmony group) The Symbols plus, The Swamp
Sunday, June 25th Gravy Train (from Birmingham) plus Disco
Friday, July 1st Disco
Saturday, July 2nd Sean Buckley Big Set plus Stumbling and Falling plus Rio Moody Dancers
Sunday, July 3rd (Radio TV and Recording stars) The Peeps
Friday, July 7th Disco
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, July 8th (Coloured Colourful CBS Recorders) The Gass
Sunday, July 9th Disco
Fri day, July 14th Disco
Saturday, July 15th Joyce Bond (Do the Teasy) Band Show
Sunday, July 16th Jazz Disco
Saturday, July 22nd (From London) Shell Shock Tamla Show
Friday, July 28th Disco
Saturday, July 29th Wynder K Frog & his Frogmen plus, The Plastic Dreamboat light show
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, August 5th The C.A.T. plus U.S.A. Flattop
Saturday, August 12th The Syn plus The Friction
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Friday, August 18th Allan D Disco (Alan Dobson is Mavis’ brother)
Saturday, August 19th P P Arnold with her Nice. A few weeks later they had split from her. Organist Keith Emerson later became a global superstar with Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Sunday, August 20th Disco
Friday, August 25th Disco
Saturday, August 26th The Reg James Explosion plus Crash Landing
Sunday, August 27th Disco
Friday, September 1st Allan D Disco
Saturday, September 2nd Ebony Keys with the Hip Hooray Band (Cat Stevens’ former backing group), plus The Unit Six
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 9th John Mayall’s Blues Breakers with support from Pesky Gee
Friday, September 15th The ‘Fabulous’ Temptations (this was The Fantastics) plus The Invaders
Saturday, September 16th Root & Jenny Jackson with the Hightimers, plus Purple Barrier
Friday, September Sep 22nd Deuce Coupe
Saturday, September 23rd Disco
Friday, September 29th The Original Drifters (one of Roy Tempest’s fakes)
Saturday, September 30th Freddie Mac and the Mac Sound, plus The Survivors
Saturday, October 7th Nite People plus Stumblin ‘n Falling Blues Band
Sunday, October 8th Spencers Washboard Kings
Saturday, October 14th Disco
Sunday, October 15th Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, October 21st Riot Squad plus the Triads
Sunday, October 22nd Bill Nile’s Delta Jazzband
Friday, October 27th Image (Kettering’s 1st and Only Light Show Scene)
Saturday, October 28th The Gass supported by The Traxx
Friday, November 3rd Disco
Saturday, November 4th (From Detroit) Max Baer and the Chicago Setback support by Friction
Friday, November 10th Allan D Disco
Saturday, November 11th Mike Stuart Span supported by The Dream plus Rio Moody Style Dancers
Sunday, November 12th Allan D Disco
Friday, November 17th Allan D Disco
Saturday, November 18th Rob Storme and the Whispers
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, November 25th Family with support from You Know Who
Saturday, December 2nd Sugar Simone and the Programme & Mo Brown and Hellions People
Sunday, December 3rd Allan Dee Disco
Saturday, December 9th Pinkertons Assorted Colours plus The Heretics
Sunday, December 10th Allan D Disco
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, December 16th P P Arnold with the TNT, plus The Crew
Sunday, December 17th Allan D Disco
Saturday, December 23rd Shevelles plus the Kobalts
Sunday, December 24th Laverne West and the Fabulous Rangers Showband
Tuesday, December 26th Swinging Q Men & the Spectre Powerhouse
Saturday, December 30th King Ozzie, Earl Green, Honey Darling and the Coloured Raisings Show
Sunday, December 31st Sweethearts & the Adlib Group
1968
Saturday, January 6th Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac plus John James and the Swamp Band (from Northampton)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, January 13th Amboy Dukes plus Surrealist Adventure
Saturday, January 20th Triads plus the Ironsides
Saturday, January 27th Milton James and the Harlem Knock-out, plus Sweethearts
Saturday, February 3rd James & Bobby Purify plus Surrealist Adventure plus Rio Moody Dancers (Another Tempest fake?)
Saturday, February 10th Bobby Johnson and the Atoms plus Vfranie
Saturday, February 17th Edwin Starr plus Motiv (Another fake?)
Saturday, February 24th Equals plus Magic Roundabout
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, March 2nd Guy Hamilton Sound plus Sweet Heart
Saturday, March 9th Jimmy Cliff with Wynder K Frog, plus The Heretics
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, March 16th Pesky Gee! plus The Trade
Saturday, March 23rd Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Copyright: Brian Hindmarch
Saturday, March 30th Chicken Shack with Christine Perfect
Copyright: Brian Hindmarch
Saturday, April 6th La Pelle Nero plus Howling Robin and his Cool Cats Girls a go go
Sunday, April 7th The Symbols
Saturday, April 13th Riot Squad plus Blue Magnum
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, April 20th Herbie Goins and the Nightimers, plus Howling Robin and his Cool Cats
Saturday, April 27th Showstoppers plus Rupert’s Rick N Beckers (NO SHOW)
Saturday, May 4thNepenthe with backing group, plus The Trax
Saturday, May 11th Hal C Blake plus Adlib plus Owlin Robin
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, May 18th Savoy Brown Blues Band plus The Friction
Saturday, May 25th Skip Bifferty plus disco
Saturday, June 1st Chantells plus Wild ‘n Silk Band, Sue Spencer, Kirk St James. Stage 2 Simon K and the Meantimes
Saturday, June 8th Family
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, June 15th The Taste plus Soul Bucket Show
Saturday, June 22nd Honeybus plus Art (from Leicester with John Deacon on bass)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, June 29th Four Kents plus Submarines
Saturday, July 6th Freddie Fingers Lee plus Bubblegum
Saturday, July 13th Simon K & the Meantimers plus Trax
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, July 20th Dr K’s Big Blues Band, plus Rupert’s Rick ‘n Beckers
Saturday, July 27th Pesky Gee! plus disco
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, August 3rd Jethro Tull
Saturday, August 10th Vanity Fair plus disco
Saturday, August 17th Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, August 24th Freddie Mac & Mac Sound
Saturday, August 31st Lloyd Alexander Real Estate plus Donnell Jackson & Broadway Crowd
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 7th The Taste plus the CAT Roadshow with US Flattop
Saturday, September 14th Lucas and the Mike Cotton Sound
Saturday, September 21st Billy Davis plus Bubblegum
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 28th Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, plus The Krisis
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, October 5th Cuby and The Blizzards (from Holland), plus Simon K and the Meantimers
Saturday, October 12th Fearns Brass Foundry
Saturday, October 19th Foundations plus The Market
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, October 26th Fantastics (USA) plus The Trax (They had previously played the Tin Hat as the Fabulous Temptations)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, November 2nd Fleetwood Mac, Duster Bennett, plus Chris Shakespears Globe Show
Saturday, November 9th Oscar Toney Junior plus Apex Big Roll Band
Saturday, November 16th Flirtations plus Chris Bartley & group
Saturday, November 23rd Black Cat Bones plus Bubblegum
Saturday, November 20th The Taste plus Sonny Burke Show
Saturday, December 7th JJ Jackson backed by Kippington Lodge
Saturday, December 14th The CAT Roadshow feat US Flattop
Saturday, December 21st Wynder K Frog
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Tuesday, December 24th New Formula
Saturday, December 28th Ferris Wheel? (no separate advert)
Tuesday, December 31st Bubblegum
1969
Saturday, January 4thSimon K & The Meantimers
Saturday, January 11th Radio1’s Mike Raven plus Hal C. Blake
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, January 18th Ray Williams and his Grenades
Saturday, January 25th Sasparella
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, February1st Plastic Penny
Saturday, February 8th Paul Williams Set (Formerly the Alan Price Set)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, February 15th 20th Century Show
From February 22nd The adverts suggest that the venue had changed hands. The adverts have KAWMC printed on them. Had the club been taken over by the Kettering Athletic Working Mens Club? Within a few weeks the adverts had moved from the main entertainments page to the ‘Around the clubs’ page.
Saturday, February 22nd (KAWMC) The Decoys & Disco
Saturday, March 1st (KAWMC) Simon K & Meantimers
Saturday, March 8th Closed for redecorating. Re-open April 5th
Saturday, April 5th Soul Express plus The Ketas
Saturday, April 12th Noel & The Fireballs plus Shelley Tane
Saturday, April 19th Ruby James & Sound Trekkers
Saturday, April 26th Freddie Noaks & The Rudies, plus Herbal Remedy
Wednesday, April 30th Disco every Wednesday
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, May 3rd Status Quo
Saturday, May 10th Killing Floor
Saturday, May 17th The Ebonies
Friday, May 23rd Sand
Saturday, May 24th Jerome Arnold Band
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, May 31st Scorpions
June Mondays TTT Disco
Friday, June 6th Disco
Saturday, June 7th Mandrakes
Saturday, June 14th Wellington Kitch
Saturday, June 21st Moth
Friday, June 27th Theodore Green
Saturday, June 28th The Variations
July Fridays TTT Disco
Saturday, July 5th Monday Morning Glory Band
Saturday, July 12th Simon K & Meantimers
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, July 19th Ace Kefford Stand (former Move bass player)
Saturday, July 26th The Axe with Rodger Bloom
Saturday, August 2nd No Advert in paper
Saturday, August 9th Cherry Blossom Clinic
Saturday, August 16th Sand
Saturday, August 23rdPtarmigen
Saturday, August 30th Killing Floor
Saturday, September 6th Clouds
Saturday, September 13th Lions of Juda (from Israel)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 20th Herd (after Peter Frampton had left them)
The Loose Ends, late 1965/early 1966. Left to right: Roy Davies, Rick Marshall, Alan Marshall, Peter Kirtley and Alan Whitehead. Photo: Peter Kirtley
Formed in Bexley Heath, Kent in late 1963, The Loose Ends were fronted by singer Alan Marshall (b. 19 February 1944, Karachi, British India, now Sindhi Province, Pakistan) and his bass playing cousin Rick Marshall.
Lead guitarist Ron Spence (b. 23 April 1947, London, England; d. 25 June 1973) was also there from the outset alongside drummer Peter Hetherington and rhythm guitarist John Knox who had been introduced to the band by Spence.
After rehearsing in a scout hut in Bexley Heath and playing some local gigs, keyboard player Roy Davies (b. 3 October 1944, Monmouthshire, southeast Wales; d. 1986), who was working in a music shop on Bexley Heath Broadway, took over from Knox around early 1964.
The group also brought in a drummer from Luton called Rick who was subsequently replaced by Orpington-based drummer Alan “Noddy” Whitehead (b. 24 July 1945, Oswestry, Shropshire). Whitehead had previously worked with singer Crispian St. Peters.
The band became the house band at St Lawrence Church Hall in Catford, southeast London during this period.
The new formation started landing regular gigs at notable local venues like the Bromel Club in Bromley, the Tiger’s Head in Downham and the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill. Crucially, their manager Bryan Mason secured the group a residency at Lewisham’s El Partido, a club that he owned, which helped build their local fan base.
Photo: Melody Maker
However, around June 1965, Ron Spence departed to join local rivals The Revellos, who were also managed by Bryan Mason.
Ron Spence (second right) with The Carl Douglas Set, 1966. Photo: Ken Baxter
In early 1966, Spence joined The Carl Douglas Set and remained with the Jamaican singer for about six months (recording unreleased material) before hooking up with Bexley, Kent outfit, The Big Wheel, which featured future Clark-Hutchinson member, Andy Clark. The group toured extensively in Switzerland and recorded a rare single there in late 1966 for the Eurex label. During this period, the guitarist started to work under the name Ron Bryer.
Ron Bryer (far right) with Big Wheel, Switzerland, 1966
Ron Bryer with The Movements, 1967. Photo: Barry WindowBerry Window & The Movements with Ron Bryer (third from left back row). Photo: Barry Window
During 1968, however, he formed The Third Eclipse who changed name to Brainticket and recorded the Krautrock classic Cottonwoodhillalbum in 1971. Returning to London in the early Seventies, he briefly reunited with Alan Marshall in One but tragically died from a drug overdose on 25 June 1973.
Selected gigs:
13 June 1964 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Hunters
18 June 1964 – Cafe Dansant, Cleethorpes with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
Photo: Lynn News
4 July 1964 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk
18 July 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex
8 August 1964 – The Northfields, Stamford, Lincolnshire
Photo: Brighton Evening Argus
5 September 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex
26 September 1964 – Glenlyn Club, Forest Hill, southeast London (start playing Monday nights)
Photo: Cambridge News
3 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Paramounts
16 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Birds
12 December 1964 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts
14 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Original All-Stars
Photo: North Norfolk News
19 December 1964 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Maniax
Photo: Lynn News
24 December 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Roadrunners
Photo: South East London Mercury
24 December 1964 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London
Photo: Bletchley District Gazette
2 January 1965 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Horizons
16 January 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts
22 January 1965 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts
Photo: Melody Maker
25 January 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
Photo: Harrow Weekly Post
29 January 1965 – Rainbow Club, Acre Hall, Northwood, Middlesex
Photo: Melody Maker
2 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Pretty Things
Photo: North Norfolk News
13 February 1965 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Trends
18 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation
Photo: Melody Maker
25 February 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
26 February 1965 – Starlite, Greenford, Middlesex with The Birds
Photo: South East London Mercury
3 April 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London
Photo: Hants & Berkshire Gazette
10 April 1965 – Ticky Rick Club, Carnival Hall, Basingstoke, Hants (Says direct from 100 Club)
15 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation
Photo: Lynn News
18 April 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, East Dereham, Norfolk with The Tea Time Four
Photo: Southern Echo
23 April 1965 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants
Photo: Maidstone Gazette
24 April 1965 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Defenders
25 April 1965 – Face Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire
29 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation
2 May 1965 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Five Dimensions
Photo: Melody Maker
16 May 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
16 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London
23 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London
Photo: Walthamstow Guardian
27 May 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
Photo: Melody Maker
28 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London with Ray Sone
4 June 1965 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon with The Buccaneers
6 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London
The Loose Ends, late 1965/early 1966. Left to right: Roy Davies, Rick Marshall, Alan Marshall, Peter Kirtley and Alan Whitehead. Photo: Peter Kirtley
Guitarist Peter Kirtley (b. 26 September 1945, Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham) from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear took Ron Spence’s place. A former member of The Chevrolets and Shorty & Them, Kirtley had appeared on the latter’s lone single, “Pills or Love’s Labour Lost” c/w “Live Laugh Love”, released on Fontana in 1964, and a German-only album, shared with Liverpool group, The Roadrunners, before decamping to London in early 1965.
According to the South East London Mercury newspaper’s 19 February 1965 edition, Kirtley and fellow Jarrow musician, bass player, the late Brian Rowan formed the short-lived Take Six with southeast London musicians, organist Roger Read (ex-Wranglers/Showtimers) and drummer Graham Willard in early 1965.
In February 1966, The Loose Ends landed a semi-residency at the exclusive Mayfair nightclub, the Scotch of St James.
Having inked a deal with Decca Records in late 1965, The Loose Ends cut their debut single, an impressive take on “Send The People Away”, a rare Moody Blues’ track penned by Mike Pinder and Denny Laine, backed with a cover of “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”, which was shipped in July 1966.
That same month, South East London Mercury reported that bass player Dave Collman (b. 13 April 1946, Croydon, Surrey) had taken over from Rick Marshall.
The Loose Ends, circa July 1966. Left to right: Roy Davies, Peter Kirtley, Dave Collman, Alan Marshall and Alan Whitehead. Photo: Peter Kirtley
Selected gigs:
13 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London
Photo: Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times
19 June 1965 – Jazz & Blues Festival, Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon’s Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers and The Epitaph Soul Band
20 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London
Photo: Lynn News
26 June 1965 – Swaffham Assembly Rooms, Swaffham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans
27 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London
4 July 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London
Photo: North Norfolk News
25 July 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Mode
14 August 1965 – Ticky Rick and Rang-A-Tang Club, Basingstoke, Hants
1 September 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
Photo: Melody Maker
10-11 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee
11 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee, Sonny Childe and Lou Johnson
13 September 1965 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London
14 September 1965 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London
15 September 1965 – Cromwellian, south Kensington, west London
16 September 1965 – The Raven, Ladywell, southeast London
17 September 1965 – Beckenham Ballroom, Beckenham, south London
18 September 1965 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London
18 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Artwoods (Southeast London Mercury has Lou Johnson)
25 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Guy Darrell
Photo: Kent Messenger
2 October 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with support
Photo: Melody Maker
2 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Jesse Fuller, The Spectres and Duke Lee
9 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Dave Anthony’s Moods, Duke Lee and Next of Kin
Photo: North Norfolk News
10 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with The Knock-out Squad
16 October 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
20 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Long, Short & Tall and Duke Lee
Photo: Melody Maker
23 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Minor Birds and Duke Lee
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail
27 October 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands
Photo: Nottingham Evening Post
30 October 1965 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (possibly their debut Nottingham appearance)
30 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Hamilton & The Movement and Duke Lee
3 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Blues Roots and Duke Lee
12 November 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
19 November 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Photo: Melody Maker
20 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Guy Darrell, Winds of Change and Duke Lee
27 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Panics and Duke Lee
Photo: West Surrey Advertiser
9 December 1965 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with Sonny Childe and Ad Finitum
11 December 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire
Photo: Nottingham Evening Post
12 December 1965 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (from The Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London)
16 December 1965 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
Photo: Melody Maker
18 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Frank Sheen Sound and Duke Lee
24 December 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire
24 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee and Frank Sheen Sound
3 January 1966 – Gala Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands
3 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer
8 January 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Web
16 January 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Ketas
Photo: North Norfolk News
30 January 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Marvin Lois Enterprise
5 February 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Defenders and The Convoys
13 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Trends
15 February 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Five Proud Walkers
Photo: South East London Mercury
19 February 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London
20 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
Photo: South East London Mercury
21 February 1966 – Starting this week, The Loose Ends played the Scotch of St James in Mayfair, central London three times a week. They will continue to play the exclusive nightclub throughout the year.
Photo: South East London Mercury
24 February 1966 – Gala Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands
26 February 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London
5 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with Tony Knight’s Chessmen
11 March 1966 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London
12 March 1966 – Golden Star Club, Caledonian Road, north London
16 March 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
17 March 1966 – Pontiac, Putney, southwest London
Photo: Either Aldershot News or Camberley News & Bagshot Observer
26 March 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Koobas
29 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action
Photo: South East London Mercury
1 April 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with The Lonely Ones
Photo: most likely Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser
2 April 1966 – St Peter’s Hall, Croydon, south London with The Board Walkers
Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer
10 April 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex
10 April 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with The Lonely Ones
Photo: Lincolnshire Standard
11 April 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soundtracks and The Reasons
17 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
Photo: Melody Maker
29 April 1966 – Links, Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire with support
30 April 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent
1 May 1966 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London
Photo: South East London Mercury
14 May 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London
18 May 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
20 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Market Hall, St Albans, Herts
26 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Bo Street Runners
27 May 1966 – Queen of Hearts, Queensbury, north London
28 May 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London
Photo: Melody Maker
4 June 1966 – Southeast Jazz Blues Festival, Blackheath, southeast London with Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Roy C and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
5 June 1966 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Tiffany’s Thoughts
6 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds
Photo: Evening Sentinel
7 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends are one of the three resident bands at the Scotch of St James for the week 11-17 June
12 June 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
13 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds
17 June 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester with Five Minus One
Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer
18 June 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex
20 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder
21 June 1966 – Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London with The Felders Orioles
Photo: Middlesbrough Evening Gazette
25 June 1966 – KD Club, Stockton-on-Tees with The Denmen (Says from Scotch of St James)
27 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds
According to an article in the Wandsworth Advertiser on 29 July, the band held down a Wednesday residency at the Bromel Club in Bromley during July and besides playing at the Scotch of St James and the Flamingo, The Loose Ends also performed at the Marquee. Apparently, they also opened a game at Charlton Athletic FC.
Barely a month after the band’s debut release, Decca issued a second single on 5 August 1966, once again produced by Noel Walker. Coupling a superb freakbeat version of George Harrison’s “Taxman” with the more R&B flavoured “That’s It”; the second outing should have been a hit but for some reason failed to chart.
However, despite the clutch of great singles, The Loose Ends were unravelling.
Photo: South East London Mercury, mid September 1966
In late September, Alan Whitehead departed, initially to join Cops ‘N’ Robbers. He then spent a month or so playing with southeast London group The Epitaph Soul Band before joining The Attack alongside singer Richard Shirman and guitarist David O’List.
Although he was photographed extensively with the band, Whitehead only appeared on two tracks (“Try It” and “We Don’t Know”) as he had already secured the drummer’s position in Scottish band The Marmalade. Whitehead remained with The Marmalade throughout its most successful years. In an interesting side note, Whitehead says that he auditioned for the group that became Procol Harum in spring 1967.
Selected gigs:
6 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley southeast London
Photo: Melody Maker
8 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Rufus Thomas
Photo: Maidstone Gazette
9 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Corvettes
13 July 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley, southeast London with The Good Things
16 July 1966 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London
17 July 1966 – Eltham Baths, Eltham, southeast London
18 July 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds
20 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London with The Squires
Photo: Southern Echo
22 July 1966 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants
23 July 1966 – Penthouse, Birmingham with Deep Feeling and Mark V
24 July 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London
26 July 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London
27 July 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
29 July 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London
South East London Mercury, 8 July 1966
According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends were one of three resident bands at the Scotch of St James with The VIPs and The Paramounts during the week 30 July – 5 August 1966
20 August 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support
21 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer
27 August 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex
Photo: Lynn News
28 August 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Sullivan James Band
Photo: Mirabelle, 3 September 1966 issue
3 September 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Yes ‘N’ No
9 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gary Farr & The T-Bones
Photo: Maidstone Gazette
10 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support
11 September 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
15 September 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London
17 September 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (Alan Whitehead’s final gig)
Photo: South East London Mercury, 6 October 1966
Rick Marshall and Alan Whitehead’s departure prompted a wider split. In early-to-mid-October 1966, Peter Kirtley departed and accepted an offer to join The Alan Price Set, working alongside bass player Boots Slade; trumpeter John Walters; sax players Steve Gregory and Clive Burrows (later replaced by Terry Childs); and drummer Roy Mills.
Selected gigs:
2 October 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
Photo: East Kent Times and Mail
5 October 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent
Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer
8 October 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (may have been Kirtley’s final gig)
9 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
With two of the band’s integral members gone, Alan Marshall joined forces with Croydon band, The Subjects. The south London group featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ) (b. 30 March 1950, London, England); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums). According to the Portsmouth News, The Subjects played at the Parlour in the Oasis Club in the city’s North End on 14 October, which may change the timing of the Loose Ends dates below
The Subjects at Bromley Court Hotel, 1966. Left to right: John Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Photo: Alan Griffin.
At the same time, the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas & The Charmers among others.
Mick Patel (second right) with Carl Douglas & The Charmers, late 1965. Photo: Ken Baxter
By late November/early December 1966, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and Bryan Mason recruited bass player Colin Pullen from Kent bands, Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All. Another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde, succeeded Roy Manderson soon afterwards.
The Loose Ends, circa mid-November 1966. Left to right: Roy Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Mick Patel, Phil Lanzon, (front) Alan Marshall, Alan Griffin and John Manderson. Photo: South East London Mercury, 15 December 1966 issue.
Roy Davies and Dave Collman meanwhile appear to have worked in a rival Loose Ends for a few months (although Davies appears to be pictured with Marshall and other groups after the Raven Club gig in early November, see below).
Roy Davies (wearing hat) with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, July 1967.
12 October 1966 – Gravesend R&B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (The Loose Ends played the club’s opening night according to PACE magazine)
15 October 1966 – Bligh’s Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent
15 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London
Photo: London Life magazine
17-18 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London
23 October 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
Photo: Dick Dale
25 October 1966 – Yum YumClub, New Georgian Club, The Gun, Croydon, south London (Dick Dale booking)
28 October 1966 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London
Photo: Cambridge News
29 October 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with The Squeeze, The Original Hermits and The Trap
2 November 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands
2-5 November 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London
Photo: South East London MercuryPhoto: Melody Maker
3 November 1966 – Raven’s Club, Lewisham, southeast London with Lee Hawkins and Coloured Raisins
Photo of The Loose Ends after the Raven Club gig. The photo seems to suggest that Roy Davies (fifth from the right) is still in the band. Photo: South East London Mercury
12 November 1966 – Matlock Ball Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Family
19 November 1966 – Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with guest group
20 November 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London
In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the Alan Marshall version of The Loose Ends by bringing in another Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker (b. 28 March 1944, Erith, Kent) and the group landed a residency at the Playboy Club on Park Lane. While there, The Loose Ends entertained the entire England World Cup winning team and their wives.
Selected gigs:
3 December 1966 – Royal Ballroom, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Soul Foundation
Photo: Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph
24 December 1966 – Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Size Seven
26 December 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (billed as The New Loose Ends)
6 January 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London
7 January 1967 – New Spot, Gosport, Hants
15 January 1967 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (billed as The New Loose Ends)
The Loose Ends in Milan, January 1967. Left to right: Bob Saker, Colin King, Mick Patel, roadie on congas, Alan Marshall, Tony Glyde, Colin Pullen and Phil Lanzon. Photo: Colin Pullen/Bob Saker
After rehearsing at the El Partido in Lewisham, and playing a lone gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon in early January 1967, The Loose Ends landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January. Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All took his place.
While playing at the Bang Bang in Milan, the musicians met Georgio Moroder plus Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll at the club.
The Loose Ends at the Bang Bang Club in Milan. Left to right; Tony Glyde, Colin King, Bob Saker, Mick Patel and Colin Pullen. Alan Marshall and Phil Lanzon are not pictured. Photo: Colin Pullen/Bob Saker
In early March, The Loose Ends returned to London and Alan Griffin took over from his replacement Colin King. The new line-up played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy.
While loading out the band’s gear from the Speakeasy one night, Jimi Hendrix and a couple of friends came out and the famous guitarist told Lanzon: “Nice combo man”.
Sometime in late April/early May, Tony Glyde left to join The Fenmen briefly before moving on to Simon K & The Meantimers and his predecessor Roy Manderson returned.
Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Tony Glyde is far right. Photo: Alan Wherry
Around the same time, Mick Patel also left to join The Canadians (with future rock star David Foster) and then joined The Warren Davis Monday Band (with Foster) with whom he appeared on the 45 “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” c/w “Without Fear” before moving to British Columbia in late 1967.
Mick Patel (third left) and David Foster (third right)
During early June, Alan Marshall and Bob Saker flew to the United States to record two tracks at Muscle Shoals with Otis Redding. The soul singer had caught the pair fronting The Loose Ends during the Stax-Volt Tour back in April and impressed by their soulful vocals invited them to record a Fame Studios.
The pair cut covers of “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing” with Redding producing. However, soon after there was a split between Jerry Wexler and Phil Walden and the proposed single was held back. The two singers returned to London that summer to find The Loose Ends had splintered.
Selected gigs:
January-March 1967 – Bang Bang, Milan, Italy (six weeks and billed as Gli Erranti)
8 February 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (This might have been booked but didn’t happen)
11 February 1967 – Ye Ye Club, Milan, Italy (billed as Alan Marshall e Gli Erranti)
25 February 1967 – Bligh’s Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent (probably the band’s first UK gig after returning from Milan if it did happen)
1 March 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent
Photo: Colin Pullen
4 March 1967 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London
8 March 1967 – Bromel Club, Downham, southeast London
April 1967 – Scotch of St James and Speakeasy (Otis Redding sees them at one of the venues)
Photo: Melody Maker
15 April 1967 – The Polytechnic, Central London with The Savoy Brown Blues Band
Cats Pyjamas, 1968. Clockwise from bottom left: Alan Griffin, Kenny Bernard, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and (front) Colin Pullen. Photo: Colin Pullen
With the singers both gone, Colin Pullen, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon and Roy Manderson stuck together and looked for a new front man. Adding singer Kenny Bernard (b. 31 December 1943, Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies), (previously from The Wranglers but at the time a solo artist), they changed name to Cats Pyjamas and made two excellent singles with CBS. The group held down a residency in Madrid in May 1968 and then gigged around London. Lanzon, Griffin and Manderson briefly played with Geno Washington in late 1969-early 1970.
Phil Lanzon later recorded with Grand Prix, toured and recorded with Sweet and has toured and recorded with Uriah Heep since the mid-1980s. He has also recorded solo CDs
When the two recordings were shelved (after Redding’s untimely death), Bob Saker cut a lone single for Polydor and then a string of singles for Parlophone and CBS (as Saker) in 1968 and 1971. In 1972, he reverted to his full name and recorded a series of singles for the York label and an album They’ve Taken Back My Number, which featured Maurice Gibb. He later found success as a voice-over artist.
Happy Magazine, 1968. Alan Marshall (back left). Peter Kirtley (second left). Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the image
Alan Marshall meanwhile reunited with former Loose Ends guitarist Peter Kirtley in Happy Magazine, a soul/R&B outfit that was managed and produced by Alan Price.
Joined by Kirtley’s old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them plus Alan White on drums (who was replaced later by west Londoner Malcolm Wolffe from The Tribe), the band cut material that was split over three singles for Polydor.
Kicking off with Alan Price’s excellent “Satisfied Street”, backed with “Beautiful Land” in December 1967, featuring a horn section that may well be Amboy Dukes members Buddy Beadle and Steve Gregory (also ex-Alan Price Set), the label re-issued the track three months later coupled with the Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham soul classic “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man”.
However, it was possibly the band’s third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You”, coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”, issued on 14 February 1969, that should have catapulted the band into the charts.
One 1969. Left to right: Alan Marshall, Bobby Sass, Kevin Fogerty, Conrad Isidore, Brent Forbes and Norman Leppard
With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year (with Peter Kirtley reportedly playing the lead guitar on some tracks).
Joined by guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); keyboardist Bobby Sass (an early member of Happy Magazine); bass player Brent Forbes; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album sank without a trace.
Peter Kirtley and Kenny Craddock meanwhile brought in three friends from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and future Yes drummer Alan White, who’d been the original drummer in Happy Magazine, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.
Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head”, coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.
Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.
Kirtley also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.
Alan Marshall, meanwhile, surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.
When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up working with a new version of One (with Jackie McAuley) before joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined.
However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and briefly revised One with Ron Bryer before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall, who is now a pastor, continues to busk in Stratford, east London.
Interestingly, Gonzalez’s keyboard player was Roy Davies, Marshall’s former band mate from The Loose Ends. In the intervening years between joining Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound and working with Gonzalez in 1974, Davies had played with The Maximum Breed Band and later The Butts Band with members of The Doors. He later became a prolific session player before passing away in 1986.
The Loose Ends recordings meanwhile have surfaced on numerous Sixties CD compilations, including Deram’s Mod Scene and Freakbeat Scene.
I would like to especially thank Alan Marshall, Alan Whitehead, Peter Kirtley, Martin Morrison-Mariner, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Colin Pullen, Bob Saker, Ken Baxter, Tony Charman and Mick Glyde for helping with the story. Thanks also to Vernon Joynson and Bruce Welsh.
This is an extensively updated version of an article that was originally published on the Strange Brew website. I’d like to thank Jason Barnard for all of his help and support over the years.
I have tried to attribute the photos correctly where possible but would welcome any corrections.
The gigs have been sourced largely from Melody Maker plus many local newspapers, including the South East London Mercury, Aldershot News, East Kent Times, Eastern Evening News, Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Harrow Weekly Post, Kent Messenger, Lincolnshire Standard, Lynn News, Maidstone Gazette, Evening Argus, Bristol Evening Post, Newmarket Journal, Nottingham Evening Post, Birmingham Evening Mail, Stamford Mercury, Surrey Advertiser, Harrow Observer, Tunbridge Wells Courier and Yarmouth Mercury among others.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
Located at 33/37 Wardour Street, the Whisky A Go Go was a major rock music venue during the mid-late 1960s and was situated in the same building as the Flamingo.
It’s not clear when it first opened its doors to rock artists but according to London Life magazine, occasional live groups did perform at the venue during 1965. However, it appears that the club really took off in late 1966, with listings four times a week. I have started to compile a list of artists who were advertised from 1966 to 1970 and would welcome any additions/corrections.
Melody Maker advertised gigs for the Whisky A Go Go every week, although there were gaps in places, particularly in late 1968 and during 1970. All of the shows listed below are from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted. Disc & Music Echo also regularly advertised the venue.
It is important to stress that these are listings for artists who were advertised in the music press so it’s quite possible that changes in the final billing may have taken place. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any memories of particular shows in the comments below.
Source:Melody Maker unless otherwise noted
During 1967, New Zealand band Me & The Others featuring future Keef Hartley Band and Uriah Heep bass player Gary Thain auditioned at the club.
1967
1 January – The Soul Set
3 January – Jimmy Cliff (with The Shakedown Sound?)
10 January – The Canadians (with David Foster on keyboards)
Photo: Melody Maker
11 January – The Soul Sisters
12 January – Alvin Cash & The Crawlers
17 January – The Bunch
19 January – Alvin Cash & The Crawlers
Photo: Melody Maker
22 January – Warren Davis Monday Band
24 January – Cool Combination
26 January – Cool Combination
29 January – Warren Davis Monday Band
31 January – The Soul Set
5 February – Warren Davis Monday Band
7 February – Edwin Starr
12 February – Warren Davis Monday Band
14 February – The Bunch
21 February – The Night Train
23 February – The Bunch
28 February – The Bunch
2 March – Edwin Starr
5 March – Warren Davis Monday Band
9 March – Duane Eddy
12 March – Warren Davis Monday Band
14 March – The Night Train
16 March – Lee Dorsey
19 March – Warren Davis Monday Band
21 March – The Bunch
23 March – The Original Drifters
24 March – The Trap
26 March – Warren Davis Monday Band
27 March – The Flashbakks
28 March – The Bunch
30 March – The Hunky Chunk Band
4 April – The Night Train
9 April – The Soul Set
11 April – The Bunch
12 April – Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry
13 April – The Trap
16 April – The Soul Set
17 April – The Dave Martin Group (audition)
The Dave Martin Group’s manager Geoff Chinnery confirms the audition date above
18 April – The Bunch
20 April – The Flashbakks
23 April – The Soul Set
25 April – The Bunch
27 April – Warren Davis Monday Band
30 April – The Shell (Shock Show)
Photo: Melody Maker
2 May – Lunar 2
4 May – Warren Davis Monday Band
7 May – The Shell Shock Show
9 May – Garnet Mimms (most likely backed by The Senate)
11 May – The Bunch
14 May – The Ultimate
16 May – Warren Davis Monday Band
Photo: Melody Maker
17 May – Jack Hammer & His Hammer Jammers
18 May – The Bunch
21 May – The Ultimate
23 May – Clyde McPhatter
25 May – Warren Davis Monday Band
Photo: Melody Maker
28 May – The Ultimate
30 May – The Iveys
31 May – Jose Feliciano
1 June – The Bunch
Photo: Melody Maker
4 June – The Ultimate
6 June – The Trap
8 June – Edwin Starr
11 June – The Pussyfoot
13 June – Craig King & The Midnight Train
14 June – The Skatalites
15 June – The Original Drifters (most likely backed by The Trend)
18 June – The Pussyfoot
19 June – The Shell Shock Show
20 June – The Impact Blues
22 June – Sonny Smiles & The Original Sonny Smiles Band
25 June – The Pussyfoot
27 June – The Impact Blues
28 June – Sugar Simone & The Programme
29 June – The Toys
2 July – The Pussyfoot
4 July – Craig King & The Midnight Train
6 July – The Iveys
Photo: Caterham Weekly Press
7 or 8 July – The All Night Walkers (aka The All Night Workers) (needs confirmation)
9 July – The Bunch
11 July – The Original Drifters (most likely backed by The Trend)
13 July – The Shell Shock Show
14 July – The Maroons
16 July – The Bunch
18 July – Neat Change
20 July – Max Baer & The Chicago Setback
Photo: Melody Maker
23 July – Warren Davis Monday Band
25 July – Mr Mo’s Messengers
27 July – The Skatalites
30 July – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
1 August – The Syrian Blues
3 August – Garnett Mimms (either backed by The Senate or The Clockwork Orange)
5 August – Katch 22
6 August – Warren Davis Monday Band
8 August – Wages of Sin
10 August – The Iveys
Photo: Melody Maker
13 August – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
14 August – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound
15 August – Wages of Sin
17 August – Mr Mo’s Messengers
20 August – The Trend
22 August – The Choice
24 August – The Clockwork Orange
This version of The Clockwork Orange is either the group that became The Doves later in the year or The Sovereigns (see 1966 entry) who backed The Fantastics from August 1967 (usually billed as The House of Orange) and also did two tours with Garnet Mimms
27 August – The Choice
28 August – Warren Davis Monday Band
29 August – Wages of Sin
31 August – The Skatalites
3 September – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
5 September – The Fabulous Temptations (aka The Fantastics) (backed by Clockwork Orange – see above)
7 September – Wages of Sin
10 September – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
12 September – Sean Buckley Set
14 September – Katch 22 and Wages of Sin
Photo: Melody Maker
17 September – Warren Davis Monday Band
19 September – The Original Drifters (most likely with The Trend backing)
21 September – Reg James Explosion
Photo: Melody Maker
24 September – John (this is Jon)
26 September – Garnet Mimms (either with The Senate or Clockwork Orange backing him)
28 September – Katch 22
Photo: Melody Maker
1 October – Mr Mo’s Messengers
3 October – Garnet Mimms (either with The Senate or The Clockwork Orange backing him)
5 October – Cats Pyjamas
8 October – Mr Mo’s Messengers
10 October – Max Baer & The Chicago Setback
12 October – The Soul Sisters with The Trend
15 October – Mr Hip
17 October – Clyde McPhatter (most likely with The Trend backing)
19 October – Duane Eddy
22 October – The Quotations
23 October – The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
24 October – The Original Drifters (most likely with The Trend backing)
26 October – Clyde McPhatter (most likely with The Trend backing)
28 October – Alison’s Dump
29 October – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
31 October – The Isley Brothers
2 November – Stacey’s Circle
5 November – Scots of St James
7 November – The Shiralee
9 November – Geranium Pond
11 November – Alison’s Dump
12 November – The Doves
14 November – The Fabulous Temptations (aka The Fantastics)
16 November – Nepenthe (most likely with The Trend backing)
19 November – The Unsuited Medium
21 November – Blue Rivers & His Maroons
23 November – Nepenthe (most likely with The Trend backing)
26 November – Dr Marigold’s Prescription
28 November – The Last Tic Band
30 November – James Brown Junior
3 December – Mr Hip
5 December – The Velours
7 December – Tuesday’s Children
10 December – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
12 December – The Fabulous Marvelettes (most likely with The Trend backing)
14 December – Dr Marigold’s Prescription
17 December – Eddie Lewison Combo
19 December – Mr Mo’s Messengers
21 December – The Fabulous Marvelettes (most likely with The Trend backing)
Photo: Melody Maker
23 December – Dr Marigold’s Prescription
24 December – The Shiralee
25 December – Alison’s Dump
26 December – The Cortinas (confirmed by Paul Griggs’ diary)
The Strangers shortly after arriving in the UK, late 1966. Photo credit: Barry Casson
Bobby Faulds (aka Bobby Hanna) – lead vocals
David Foster – keyboards/vocals
Mike Stymest – bass
Wes Chambers – saxophone
Rich England – saxophone
Billy Stewart – trumpet/valve
Barry Casson – drums
Having enjoyed success in their native Victoria, British Columbia as Bobby Faulds & The Strangers, the group makes plans to relocate to England in late 1966 after drummer Barry Casson, who has spent time in London, recommends moving there.
The band arrives in England in early October 1966, having travelled overland across Canada from Vancouver to Gander, Newfoundland where they pick up their flight.
On arrival, the group stay with Faulds’ relatives in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Renamed The Canadians, they start by playing some local gigs.
Canadian Strangers featured in the Kettering Leader, 28 October 1966, page 8
30 October 1966 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire (Kettering Leader) Debut show in Britain backing Corby’s Gidian
5 November 1966 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Advertiser/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Kettering Leader, 11 November 1966, page 8Kettering Leader, 18 November 1966, page 8
13 November 1966 – Granada, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Kettering Leader)
Kettering Leader, 9 December 1966
During early December, the band signs to the Roy Tempest Agency and gains work backing visiting US acts, starting with The Original Drifters on a 10-day tour.
10 December 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
11 December 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Bystanders (Melody Maker) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
12 December 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Band, the Prowlers, The Few Four and The Breed (Cambridge News) Billed as The Canadian Strangers
13 December 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
15 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Jimmy Henry and Him & The Others (Melody Maker)
17 December 1966 – Refectory, Golders Green, London (Melody Maker)
17 December 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, London (Melody Maker)
18 December 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Prowlers, The Mead, The Defenders and Times Five (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
23 December 1966 – Clouds, Derby with John Evan Soul Band (Derby Evening Telegraph) This may be without Bobby Hanna
23 December 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, east London (Melody Maker) Billed as Bobby Hanna with Earl Henderson Soul Band
24 December 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
25 December 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Factotums and The Puritans (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
25 December 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with The In Crowd (Nottingham Evening Post) Backing The Original Drifters
31 December 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Equals, The Triads, Ray Bones at the Organ and Frank and Keith (Lincolnshire Standard) Backing The Spellbinders. The Canadians may have been back at this venue on 7 January backing The Soul Sisters
31 December 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool (All-nighter) with The Prowlers, The Beechwoods, The Tatters, The States, The Klubs, The Kids, The Sign and The Times, The Hideways and The Shades (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book) Possibly backing The Soul Sisters
1 January 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Chester Chronicle) Possibly backing The Soul Sisters
7 January 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backing The Spellbinders
7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Lincolnshire Echo) Possibly backing The Soul Sisters
8 January 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Backing The Soul Sisters
10-11 January 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Melody Maker) The Canadians most likely also played on 11 January backing The Soul Sisters
12 January 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Bristol Evening Post/Western Daily Press) Backing The Spellbinders
13 January 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backing The Spellbinders
13 January 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backing The Spellbinders
14 January 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Backing The Spellbinders
14 January 1967 – Rawmarsh Baths Hall, Rawmarsh, South Yorkshire with the Rumours (South Yorkshire and Rotherham Advertiser) Backing The Spellbinders
15 January 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Runcorn Chronicle) Backing The Spellbinders
21 January 1967 – Gay Gordon, Balloch, Scotland (Lennox Herald) Possibly backing The Spellbinders
23 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Traction (Evening Sentinel) Backing Inez & Charlie Foxx
26 January 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hants (Portsmouth News) Possibly backing Inez & Charlie Foxx
Roy Tempest’s Global Productions booked a tour with Billy Stewart and The Canadians (pictured with the horn section in a poster) starting in late January 1967 but Stewart didn’t come to England in the end despite a list of advertised gigs. Barry Casson also confirms they didn’t back Stewart. This would suggest they carried on backing Inez & Charlie Foxx.
27 January 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with Joe E Young & The Tonicks (Melody Maker) Possibly backed Inez & Charlie Foxx
30 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Amboy Dukes (Evening Sentinel) Backing Inez & Charlie Foxx
30 January 1967 – Clouds, Derby with Peppers Machine (Derby Evening Telegraph) Backing Inez & Charlie Foxx
Around this time, the horn section returns home to Canada.
11 February 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
The Kettering Leader‘s 17 February issue, page 4, notes that the group returned to Kettering the previous week to re-record a single written by Bobby and David with Derek Tompkins at Shield Studios,
Photo: Kettering Leader
Tour with Chuck Berry (Record Mirror and Disc & Music Echo):
17 February 1967 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester and Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester
18 February 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester
18 February 1967 – Manchester Tech College, Manchester
19 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement and Del Shannon (riot at this show or the one on 26 February)
20 February 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Wolverhampton (unlikely given Cardiff which is confirmed below but not impossible)
20 February 1967 – Cardiff Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales
21 February 1967 – Olympia, Paris, France
22 February 1967 – Stevenage Locarno, Stevenage, Herts
22 February 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham (or is this the Rum Runner?)
23 February 1967 – Streatham Locarno, Streatham, southwest London
23 February 1967 – Blaises, Queen’s Gate, London
24 February 1967 – Durham University, Durham
24 February 1967 – Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear
25 February 1967 – Sussex University, Brighton, East Sussex
25 February 1967 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey
26 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement and Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (riot at this show or the one on 19 February)
27 February 1967 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Multivation, The Klubs and The Tremas (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
11 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Dungeon website – add link) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
17 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Love Affair (http://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
18 March 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Original Drifters, The Sound Society and The Solents (Evening Sentinel) Backing The Original Drifters
19 March 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
22 March 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Portsmouth, Hants (Portsmouth News) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
23 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
25 March 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
1 April 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Mike Curtis Set and Pete Doyle & Dave Eager (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Possibly backing The Original Drifters
Tour with Bo Diddley:
14 April 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
15 April 1967 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire
16 April 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London
17 April 1967 – Top Rank Cardiff Suite, south Wales with The Creation (South Wales Evening Post) Backing Bo Diddley
18 April 1967 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, London
19 April 1967 – Blaises, Queens Gate, London
19 April 1967 – Sybilla’s, Swallow Street, London
27 April 1967 – Golden Torch Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Soul Sisters and The Toggery (Evening Sentinel) Possibly with Mick Patel from The Loose Ends on lead guitar having joined
The above gig was the last show that The Trend played backing The Soul Sisters before they drove to West Berlin. It’s possible The Canadians took over for a bit as they had worked with them previously (see above).
The Kettering Leader newspaper’s 28 April 1967, page 4, issue mentions that local singer Barry Noble is sharing a flat with The Canadians in Gloucester Road, west London. He is pictured with the group too suggesting he briefly joins them.
During May, English guitarist Mick Patel from The Loose Ends joins The Canadians who travel to Cologne to play gigs.
On their return to the UK, Bobby Faulds signs a solo deal and records as Bobby Hanna.
Photo: Kettering Leader
The Kettering Leader‘s 2 June 1967 issue, page 4, reports that David Foster and Mike Stymest have teamed up with a new drummer and guitarist (Mick Patel) form a new band.
David Foster and Mick Patel will subsequently join The Warren Davis Monday Band. Casson meanwhile joins Ruskin T Emery Revue with Australian guitarist Ray Danaher
The original Warren Davis Monday Band from early 1967. Photo: Bruce Usherwood
Formed from the ashes of Croydon R&B outfit, The Boardwalkers, who’d recorded two tracks on a private pressing demo single – “A Miracle” and “Any Man’s Girl” (two versions), the original Warren Davis Monday Band came together in January 1967.
Warren Davis – (aka Max Spinks) – lead vocals
Rob Walker – lead guitar/vocals
Andy Wilson – Hammond organ
Bruce Usherwood – bass/vocals
Paul Houlton – tenor saxophone
Martin Grice – tenor saxophone
Peter Mole – drums
The Boardwalkers in Croydon, March 1966. Clockwise from top left: Bruce Usherwood, Jon White, Rob Walker, Peter Mole, Warren Davis (aka Max Spinks) and Martin Grice. Photo: Bruce Usherwood
This formation cuts the band’s debut single – Bill Wyman and Peter Gosling’s “Wait For Me” c/w Warren Davis’ “I Don’t Wanna Hurt You” (Columbia BD 8190). Usherwood knew Wyman and Gosling, who was working with Moon’s Train.
7 January 1967 – Southwark Pop Scene, Newington Public Hall, Walworth Road, south London with Manfred Mann and Dave Cash (South East London Mercury)
20 January 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
22 January 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
29 January 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
4 February 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Bobcats
5 February 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
10 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Rockin’ Berries
11 February 1967 – Manhole, Redhill, Surrey
12 February 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, central Soho, London
18 February 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with support (Kentish Express)
23 February 1967 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with Ty-Burns (Aldershot News)
25 February 1967 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Shame (Aldershot News)
5 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
11 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
12 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
19 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
26 March 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
1 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Dave Berries & The Cruisers
2 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
8 April 1967 – Booker T & The MGs rave about them in Melody Maker
9 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
15 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
16 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
17 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd
22-23 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)
27 April 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
28 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jeff Beck Group
29-30 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
4 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
6-7 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
13 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Terry Reid with Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers
Around this time, the band was joined briefly by Welshman, guitarist Dave Edmunds, who took over from Rob Walker. Melody Maker‘s 13 May issue, page 14, includes an advert for the group looking for a new singer and guitarist.
Edmunds who would soon move on to join the band that became Love Sculpture later became a successful solo artist. Walker briefly returned to the group after Edmunds had played only a handful of gigs.
14 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
16 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
21 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
25 May 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
27 May 1967 – Roaring 20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
28 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Sookie Dolls
4 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
5 June 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Edwin Starr and Band of Joy
6 June 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Edwin Starr
8 June 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Edwin Starr gig but most likely The Warren Davis Monday Band as backing group)
9 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with Edwin Starr
9 June 1967 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Edwin Starr
10 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Manfred Mann, Edwin Starr, The Darlings and Ray Bones
11 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
12 June 1967 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey with Edwin Starr
18 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
25 June 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
1 July 1967 – Big ‘L’ Speakeasy, Ryde Pier Head, Ryde, Isle of Wight with The Image (Isle of Wight County Press)
2 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Moons Train and The Trap
8 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Small Faces
9 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
Rob Walker left permanently around now. Further changes took place soon after when Andy Wilson and Paul Houlton also departed, the latter to join Moon’s Train.
L-R: Bruce Usherwood, Mick Patel, David Foster, Del Paramor, Martin Grice, Peter Mole and Warren Davis (aka Max Spinks). Photo: Bruce Usherwood
A new line-up comprised:
Warren Davis – lead vocals
David Foster – keyboards (came over from Vancouver with The Canadian Strangers)
Mick Patel – lead guitar/saxophone/vocals (ex-Loose Ends)
Martin Grice – tenor saxophone
Bruce Usherwood – bass/vocals
Peter Mole – drums
While the band was rehearsing at Billy Walker’s Upper Cut, they auditioned tenor saxophone Derek “Del” Paramor, who joined from Vince Edwards’ group. Until May 1967, he’d worked with David Essex & The Mood Indigo.
15 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Wynder K Frog (new line up’s debut)
16 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
22 July 1967 – Central R&B Club, Gillingham, Kent with Derrick Dee Soul Show
23 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
23 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (late nighter)
29 July 1967 – Leeds International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire
29 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Manchester with Locomotion (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) This is missing from Del Paramor’s gig list, so may not have happened
30 July 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
2 August 1967 – The current formation cuts two tracks at Regent Sound studios with Jeff Collins producing. The recordings are featured on their second single – a cover of the Raleigh/Linden co-write (and recorded by Lou Rawls) “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” c/w Warren Davis and David Foster’s “Without Fear” (Columbia BD 8270).
Advert in Record Retailer, late 1967
4 August 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
6 August 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Eric Burdon & The Animals
6 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
Soon after, the band headed to Naples, Italy to play at the NATO base from 9-16 August. The trip was a disaster as the club on the base didn’t know anything about the booking and the group only played a few times so they could afford to return to London.
19 August 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
26 August 1967 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk
27 August 1967 – Cat-Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal) This isn’t in Del Paramor’s gig list so was probably cancelled
28 August 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
28 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, central London
Left to right: Martin Grice, Del Paramor, Warren Davis, Peter Mole, David Foster, Bruce Usherwood and Mick Patel. Photo: Bruce Usherwood
Following the double-nighter in Soho, David Foster, Mick Patel and Bruce Usherwood all departed. Usherwood subsequently joined Patrick Dane & The Front Line Band. Foster returned to Canada where he became a successful solo artist and producer.
The band regrouped, adding two former members of The Overlanders, lead guitarist Paul Brett and bass player Paul Petts. They also brought in keyboard player Keith Beck (real name: Burberry).
Clockwise top left: Keith Beck, Del Paramor, Paul Brett (hat), Peter Mole, Martin Grice, Warren Davis and Paul Petts. Photo: Paul Brett
The line-up now comprised:
Warren Davis – lead vocals
Paul Brett – lead guitar/vocals
Keith Beck – Hammond organ
Martin Grice – tenor saxophone
Del Paramor – tenor saxophone
Paul Petts – bass
Peter Mole – drums
8 September 1967 – Harrow Inn, Woolwich, southeast London
9 September 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London
17 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street Soho, central London
22 September 1967 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
22 September 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, central London with Lloyd Alexander’s Blues Band
23 September 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire
29 September 1967 – Elm Hotel, Leigh on Sea, Essex
30 September 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
1 October 1967 – Lyme Regis, Dorset (possibly Marine Theatre)
4 October 1967 – Flamingo, Soho, central London
6 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with The Locomotion
7 October 1967 – Croydon Tech, Croydon, south London
10 October 1967 – Staircase, Soho, central London (opening night of club with Cat Stevens as guest of honour, who wasn’t performing)
13 October 1967 – Beachcomber (Dunstable, Bedfordshire?)
14 October 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Wales with The Raynes (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)
16 October 1967 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex
20 October 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London
21 October 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London
21 October 1967 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London
28 October 1967 – Assembly Rooms, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire
31 October 1967 – Beachcomber, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
4 November 1967 – On this day, the Daily Sketch “Monkees” article appeared, only to be denied later in Variety
The band in late 1967. Photo: Paul Brett
4 November 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire
8 November 1967 – The band records Paul Petts’ “What’s It Like Down There?” at Tony Pike Music Ltd studios in Putney.
9 November 1967 – The musicians record Paul Brett and Paul Petts’ “Queen Victoria” at Tony Pike Music Ltd studios in Putney. Both tracks are shelved.
10 November 1967 – Staircase, Soho, central London
11 November 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Blue Magnum
14 November 1967 – Dollar Disco, Slough, Berkshire
15 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News) Missing from Del Paramor’s gigs so may have been cancelled
16 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, central London (with either The Syn or Love Affair)
17 November 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Pink Floyd, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Ivan’s Jaguars, The JB’s, The Peighton Checks, Roger Bloom’s Hammer, The Roll Movement, The Screen and The Syndicate (Yorkshire Evening Post)
18 November 1967 – St Paul’s College, Shaftesbury Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
22 November 1967 – Dundee University, Dundee, Scotland
23 November 1967 – String O’ Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Yorkshire Evening Post)
25 November 1967 – Sixty Nine Club, Hotel Ryde Castle, Ryde, Isle of Wight with The Cherokees (Isle of Wight County Press)
28 November 1967 – Racing Drivers Ball, Savoy Hotel, Strand, London
1 December 1967 – North West Polytechnic, Royal Hotel, Woburn Place, London with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band and Fleetwood Mac
2 December 1967 – Witham (possibly Public Hall), Essex
3-4 December 1967 – String O’Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire
5 December 1967 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
8 December 1967 – Shooters Hill Grammar School, Shooters Hill, SE10, near Greenwich, London
9 December 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London
10 December 1967 – RAF Witton, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (held at Frank Freeman’s) The Kidderminster Shuttle advert says from the Marquee, London
15 December 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall
Photo: Richard Goddard. Bearing in mind the Cornish gig below, this booking seems unlikely and is not in Del Paramor’s gig list
16 December 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Future Impression (billed as Dave Warren Monday Band)
18-20 December 1967 – Horseshoe Club, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester
22 December 1967 – Jason’s Club, Barnstaple, Devon
23 December 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Friction
24 December 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent
29 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey
30 December 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire
31 December 1967 – Blaises, Kensington, west London
Paul Brett left early in the new year. He joined Tintern Abbey and later led his own group, Paul Brett’s Sage after playing with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Velvet Opera and Fire. Tony Ollard joined after working with The Creation (he’d replaced Eddie Phillips).
The new line up now comprised:
Warren Davis – lead vocals
Tony Ollard – lead guitar
Keith Beck – Hammond organ
Martin Grice – tenor saxophone
Del Paramor – tenor saxophone
Paul Petts – bass
Peter Mole – drums
4 January 1968 – Warwick Hall, Kimpton Road, southeast London
5 January 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
6 January 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
6 January 1968 – String of Beads, Bradford, West Yorkshire
7-8 January 1968 – Hatchetts, Piccadilly, central London
9 January 1968 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire
9 January 1968 – Sybillas, Swallow Street, central London
11 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
13 January 1968 – College of Technology, Brighton, West Sussex
16 January 1968 – The new line up returns to Tony Pike’s Putney studio and record another Paul Petts song, “Thinkin’ About Tomorrow” and Warren Davis’ “Frances”. Both tracks are shelved.
17 January 1968 – Church Hall, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
18 January 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset (Western Gazette)
19 January 1968 – Bristol, Avon (gig was cancelled)
20 January 1968 – YMCA, Gloucester, Gloucestershire with Here, There & Everywhere
25 January 1968 – Audition for BBC, central London
27 January 1968 – White Tiles, Swindon, Wiltshire
30 January 1968 – The Blue, Rotherhithe, southeast London
Clockwise from top left: Peter Mole, Martin Grice, Warren Davis, Paul Brett, Del Paramor, Paul Petts and Keith Beck. Photo: Paul Brett
1 February 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
3 February 1968 – RAF Waddington, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
4-5 February 1968 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands (also gig at Mercer’s Arms, Coventry on 5 February)
9 February 1968 – Big C, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News) Missing from Del Paramor’s gig list so may have been cancelled
10 February 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with The Block
13-28 February 1968 – Hotel Pino, Turin, Italy
1-17 March 1968 – Blow Up Club, Munich, West Germany
With the German dates completed, Martin Grice and Keith Beck returned to Turin and joined The Patrick Sansom Set.
Back in the UK in March 1968, the remaining members rehearsed new baritone sax player Roger Davis and debuted at Klooks Kleek in West Hampstead on 21 March 1968.
18 March 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (billed as Warren Davis The Monday Band) This gig was billed but did not happen
Although advertised, this gig was cancelled
21 March 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (new line-up’s debut)
Although advertised, this gig was cancelled
28 March 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with Emotion (Western Gazette) Del Paramor says that this gig was cancelled
However, there was a split in the band’s ranks at this point with Warren Davis, Del Paramor and Roger Davis linking up with the group Still Life to form a new version of The Warren Davis Monday Band. Tony Ollard, Paul Petts and Pete Mole split to work on other projects. Ollard (see comments) moved to Italy.
Davis, Paramor and Davis had seen Still Life at the Marquee on 25 March 1968 and were impressed.
The new formation comprised:
Warren Davis – lead vocals
Stuart Cowell – guitar/lead vocals
Tom Tierney – guitar
Con Byrne – bass
Ron Reynolds – Hammond organ
Del Paramor – tenor saxophone
Roger Davis – baritone saxophone
Jim Toomey – drums
The new line-up recorded the track “No 9 Putney Bus” for what they hoped would be a TV series.
30 March 1968 – Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
31 March 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
3 April 1968 – Blaises, Kensington, west London
5 April 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Barnstaple, Devon
6 April 1968 – Tardebigge, Redditch, Worcestershire (venue unknown)
19 April 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Del Paramor says David Essex turned up to see him at the gig which was a disaster)
20 April 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex (billed as Still Life)
24 April 1968 – Blaises, Kensington, west London
26 April-2 May 1968 – Rose Club, Hannover, West Germany
4 May 1968 – Tofts, Folkestone, Kent
7 May 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Del Paramor and Roger Davis told they were sacked)
9 May 1968 – Quay Club, Exeter, Devon
10 May 1968 – Scottish Club Discotheque, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)
11 May 1968 – Cirencester, Gloucestershire (possibly Stax Club)
14 May 1968 – Sybillas, Swallow Street, central London
15 May 1968 – Hampstead Country Club, north London
Del Paramor and Roger Davis left after this gig. Paramor joined Mr Mo’s Messengers, who morphed into Sonority, where he worked with Peter Mole.
20 May 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Fish-Hook (billed as Warren Davis Band)
21 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
23 May 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
26 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
28 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
29 May 1968 – Hampstead Country Club, north London
1 June 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with C G Morris and The Reactions
3 June 1968 – Whisky A Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
Guitarist Tom Tierney left around now. Warren Davis and Con Byrne wrote “The Painter”, which Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera record.
Two other tracks credited to Byrne-Davis: “Fire Fly” and “Deed I Do” were cut as acetates.
At some point, possibly with this final formation, the band cut two tracks at IBC Sound Recording Studios in Portland Place: “Nothing Is Sweeter Than Lovin’ You” and “Muddy Water”.
15 June 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex
29-30 June 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes (Saturday) and The Provokers (Sunday)
By mid-July 1968 the band’s line-up comprised:
Warren Davis – lead vocals
Stuart Cowell – lead guitar/vocals
Ron Reynolds – Hammond organ
Con Byrne – bass
Jim Toomey – drums
Source: Journal du Jura number 213
Judging by a gig in Switzerland in mid-September with The Pretty Things (see comments and above), the band may have played some European dates around this time.
One of the band’s final gigs on 19 September 1968
19 September 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London
The musicians, however, went their separate ways by late September 1968. Cowell and Toomey would form a new band with Jerome Arnold from Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band and later put together Titus Groan.
Warren Davis (see comments) audition for The Foundations but was not successful. In 1971 he co-wrote both sides of a single with Byrne for the band Mighty Dodos, which was released on Spark.
Huge thanks to Del Paramor for the gigs listings from July 1967-May 1968. Thanks to Del, Bruce Usherwood, Paul Brett and Stuart Cowell for details. Melody Maker also provided gigs for the Upper Cut, Forest Gate, London. I also used a number of regional newspapers for gigs. I will be writing a more detailed article on the band and would welcome hearing from other former members.
Blaises was located in the basement of the Imperial Hotel at 121 Queen’s Gate in Kensington, west London, SW7 (now demolished) and was a magnet for musicians, agents, managers and writers.
Jim Carter-Fea, who later managed the Speakeasy and Revolution, was involved with the club.
The Byrds played here on their debut UK tour in 1965 and many top acts of the day performed on the stage in the mid-late 1960s, most notably Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Yes, to name just a few.
Blaises wasn’t consistently advertised in the music papers throughout the 1960s so it’s been difficult to find gigs.
The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue and posters of advertised gigs as well as band photos (all credited accordingly).
Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at Blaises during 1965-1966:
James Nairn (aka James Royal) says that his groups James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set played at Blaises; the former during 1965-1966 and the latter from 1966-1968.
Drummer/singer Tony Richard says that his band The Fetish Crowd performed at the club during the 1965-1966 period.
1965
6 August 1965 (Thursday) – The Byrds (Record Mirror)
London Life magazine’s 30 October to 5 November 1965 issue notes that there is a live group changing weekly.
1966
London Life magazine notes in its 8-14 January 1966 issue that there is a different live group every night at the club. This is the same for every issue until the final London Life magazine issue is published on 31 December 1966.
4 February 1966 (Friday) – John Lee Hooker (Melody Maker)
24 March 1966 (Thursday) – Wilson Pickett (backed by The Statesiders) (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 April 1966 (Wednesday) – Martha & The Vandellas (Melody Maker)
10 May 1966 (Tuesday) – John Lee Hooker (Record Mirror)
Julian Covey & The Machine were probably Hooker’s backing band as they provided support for the blues legends on a tour this month.
Keyboardist Stan Marut, who left just before the tour, says his place was taken by Dave Greenslade, who then joined Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.
30 July 1966 (Saturday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
3 August 1966 (Wednesday) – The Creation (Fabulous 208 and London Life magazine)
22 August 1966 (Monday) – The Artwoods (needs confirmation)
8 September 1966 (Thursday) – The In Crowd (they became Tomorrow in early 1967) (Fabulous 208 and Marmalade Skies website).
9 September 1966 (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
23 September 1966 (Friday) – The Knack (London Life magazine)
Paul Gurvitz went on to The Gun while Graham Clay joined The New York Public Library (see below). Brian Parrish went on to Badger.
27 September 1966 (Tuesday) – She Trinity (Fabulous 208 and London Life magazine)
29 September 1966 (Thursday) – The Brian Auger & The Trinity (Melody Maker)
This is the date that Jimi Hendrix sat in with The Brian Auger Trinity.
According to the Hendrix website (and Vic Briggs and Kathy Etchingham’s recollections), The Brian Auger Trinity had played at the Scotch of St James the previous night where the waiter told Trinity guitarist Vic Briggs about an amazing black guitarist who had sat in with The VIPs the night before (27 September).
Chas Chandler and Hendrix walked in shortly afterwards and were introduced to the band who were playing a warm-up gig without singer Julie Driscoll. Brian Auger let Hendrix jam with the group and, impressed, invited the American guitarist to sit in at Blaises the following night.
On 29 September, Chandler and Hendrix arrived at Blaises after drinking at the Kilt Club where they met French singer Johnny Halliday. Auger introduced Hendrix to the crowd for a jam after the interval.
London Life has Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers for this date but it is possible that this was actually Friday, 30 September after a show at the California Ballroom in Dunstable.
3 October 1966 (Monday) – Robert Parker (Melody Maker)
4 October 1966 (Tuesday) – The Artwoods (Fabulous 208)
Future Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord was a member of The Artwoods.
5 October 1966 (Wednesday) – Robert Parker and Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208)
11 October 1966 (Tuesday) – Garnet Mimms (Fabulous 208)
12 October 1966 (Wednesday) – Ike & Tina Turner (London Life magazine)
29 October 1966 (Saturday) – The Hush (London Life magazine)
Keith Fairhurst, singer with The Chosen Few, says the band played this venue about six times after moving down from Manchester and changing their name to The Hush. They also frequented the club on other occasions and he was there on 29 September when Jimi Hendrix sat in with The Brian Auger Trinity (see above).
Fairhurst adds that Blaises was only a small club and was an exclusive venue, which meant that normal club goers that frequented many of the other London clubs would not have attended; it was too expensive and licensed. Management insisted that they set up by 9pm and they never started before 9.30pm.
8 November 1966 (Tuesday) – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Melody Maker)
9 November 1966 (Wednesday) – Jerry Lee Lewis (Melody Maker)
17 November 1966 (Thursday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Tatler)
21 November 1966 (Monday) – Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208)
22 November 1966 (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Tatler)
30 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Young Rascals (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)
Melody Maker also has The Brian Auger Trinity on 30 November (see advert above). The two bands probably used the same equipment.
Guitarist Vic Briggs, who had moved on to join Eric Burdon’s New Animals by this point, says that all of the “in-clubs” were so small that you had to get your gear in before people arrived and wait until they left to move out. Also, they could not afford to pay more than one band per night. There may have been exceptions but that was the general rule.
1 December 1966 (Thursday) – The In Crowd (became Tomorrow) (London Life magazine) Nick Simper’s website has Bobby Hebb playing from 11.30pm
8 December 1966 (Thursday) – The In Crowd (became Tomorrow) (London Life magazine)
13 December 1966 (Tuesday) – The Farinas (became Family) (Record Mirror)
14 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Little Richard (John Warburg’s research)
20 December 1966 (Tuesday) – The Artwoods (needs confirmation)
21 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Jimi Hendrix Experience (Melody Maker)
30 December 1966 (Friday) – Deep Feeling (Melody Maker)
Deep Feeling featured future members of Traffic, Family and Spooky Tooth
1967
Jim Cregan, guitarist with Blossom Toes, says his band played at the club during 1967.
Chris Hunt, drummer with The Good Time Losers, says that his group performed at Blaises during 1967.
Mick Ketley, keyboard player with Bognor Regis version of The Motivation which became The Penny Peep Show in September 1967, says that his group played at Blaises which would have been after May 1967.
Pete Cole, bass player with The Trend, says that he played the venue. The most likely time frame is after September 1967 and may have been when the group backed visiting US soul acts.
Jim Carter-Fae, who managed the club, took over the management of Hull band, The Majority and the group played this venue during 1967.
7 January 1967 (Saturday) – The Knack (Melody Maker)
Paul Gurvitz went on to The Gun while Graham Clay joined The New York Public Library (see below). Brian Parrish went on to Badger.
13 January 1967 (Friday) – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Melody Maker)
17 January 1967 (Tuesday) – Family (Melody Maker)
18 January 1967 (Wednesday) – Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208 – needs confirmation)
Still from the film The Sorcerers showing a band playing live (in January 1967 or earlier). Poster on the wall lists Inez & Charlie Foxx. Thanks to Christopher Matheson for providing
25 January 1967 (Wednesday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Poster on wall in film the Sorcerers)
26 January 1967 (Thursday) – Jimmy McGriff (Disc & Music Echo)
According to Flashback magazine, Keith West and Steve Howe’s band The In Crowd were residents at Blaises around late January/early February and soon changed name to Tomorrow.
8 February 1967 (Wednesday) – Maxine Brown & The Q-Set (Disc & Music Echo)
The Q-Set will link up with Ronnie Jones after its tour with Maxine Brown.
Disc & Music Echo’s 11 February issue notes that Ike & Tina Turner had played at the club recently.
14 February 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Fabulous 208)
According to Melody Maker in April 1967, Herbie Goins had a regular Tuesday night residency at Blaises so there may be more Tuesday dates between this one and the one below that they played. Future Bob Marley guitarist Junior Marvin was the keyboard player with the band at this time when he used the stage name Junior Kerr.
23 February 1967 (Thursday) – Chuck Berry (backed by The Canadians) (Melody Maker)
The Canadians’ keyboard player was future record producer and music executive David Foster.
28 February 1967 (Tuesday) – Pink Floyd and The Majority (Melody Maker)
If both bands indeed played on this evening, it would have been one of the rare occasions when more than one group played.
7 March 1967 (Tuesday) – Keith (Disc & Music Echo and Melody Maker)
18 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Hush (Melody Maker)
Singer Keith Fairhurst says that on one occasion when The Hush played Blaises on a Saturday night, a Canadian television crew filmed them but he’s never seen the footage.
Still from the film The Sorcerers. Thanks to Christopher Matheson for supplying. Judging by the gig poster on the wall, this performance was January 1967 or earlier.
Fairhurst adds that the inside of Blaises appears in the 1967 film The Sorcerers.
17 April 1967 (Monday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
19 April 1967 (Wednesday) – Bo Diddley (backed by The Canadians) (Melody Maker)
David Foster was the keyboard player in The Canadians (see above).
1 May 1967 (Monday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
9 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers with The Satin Dolls (Melody Maker)
Future Bob Marley guitarist Junior Marvin was the group’s keyboard player at this time (see above).
11 May 1967 (Thursday) – The Coloured Raisins and Jack Hammer & His Hammer Jammers (Melody Maker)
Future Sweet producer Phil Wainman was the drummer with The Hammer Jammers. If both bands played, this would have been one of the rare occasions when two groups performed.
16 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers and The Web (Melody Maker)
If both bands played, this would have been one of the rare occasions when two groups performed.
23 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)
30 May 1967 (Tuesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
Record Mirror says Herbie Goins’ band has a Tuesday residency so may have shared the bill. They may also have continued to play more Tuesday nights as they appear again below on 12 September.
5 June 1967 (Monday) – Amen Corner (Melody Maker)
8 June 1967 (Thursday) – The Turtles (Disc & Music Echo, Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)
14 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The Cliffons (needs source)
20 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Coloured Raisins, King Ossie, Honey Darling and Earl Green (Melody Maker)
25 June 1967 (Sunday) – Jose Feliciano (Melody Maker)
6 July 1967 (Thursday) – Jefferson Airplane (cancelled) (needs source)
7 July 1967 (Friday) – Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Disc & Music Echo and Fabulous 208)
14 July 1967 (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Fabulous 208)
25 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Amen Corner (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)
1 August 1967 (Tuesday) – Donnie Elbert (Melody Maker)
16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Ten Years After (Fabulous 208)
18 August 1967 (Friday) – Granny’s Intentions (needs source)
26 August 1967 (Saturday) – Chicken Shack (Melody Maker)
6 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)
12 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)
14 September 1967 (Thursday) – Big Maybelle & The Majority (Melody Maker)
20 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)
26 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Ten Years After (Fabulous 208)
4 October 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)
5 October 1967 (Thursday) – Vanilla Fudge (Melody Maker)
Disc & Music Echo has this gig down for 8 October, not 5 October.
18 October 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)
19 October 1967 (Thursday) – Freddie King (Melody Maker)
23 October 1967 (Monday) – Vanilla Fudge (Disc & Music Echo)
24 October 1967 (Tuesday) – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)
2 November 1967 (Thursday) – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)
3 November 1967 (Friday) – Deuce Coup (Melody Maker)
4 November 1967 (Saturday) – The Mike Stuart Span (Melody Maker)
6 November 1967 (Monday) – The Majority (Melody Maker)
7 November 1967 (Tuesday) – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)
8 November 1967 (Wednesday) – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)
9 November 1967 (Thursday) – Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)
10 November 1967 (Friday) – The Maze (Melody Maker)
11 November 1967 (Saturday) – Dr K’s Blues Band (Melody Maker)
14 November 1967 (Tuesday) – The Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)
25 November 1967 (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
28 November 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas and Chris Clark (Melody Maker)
1 December 1967 (Friday) – Gladys Knight & The Pips (Melody Maker)
12 December 1967 (Tuesday) – The Vibrations (Melody Maker)
14 December 1967 (Thursday) – Eddie Floyd (Melody Maker)
31 December 1967 (Sunday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)
1968
Guitarist Paul Brett says that he played this venue during 1968, which would have been with Tintern Abbey.
4 January 1968 (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
20 January 1968 (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
30 March 1968 (Saturday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)
3 April 1968 (Wednesday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)
5 April 1968 (Friday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)
24 April 1968 (Wednesday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)
30 April 1968 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
Melody Maker’s 4 May issue notes that a fire gutted the Speakeasy on Saturday night (27 April), causing £20,000 worth of damage. Roy Flynn, co-owner, said that the club couldn’t reopen for about three months (it ended up being mid-December) and that gigs would be transferred to Blaises and billed as ‘Speakeasy at Blaises’. These are noted below.
Ike & Tina Turner were billed to play on Sunday, 28 April and Bill Haley & The Comets on 30 April. These may have been cancelled or transferred to Blaises. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further details.
1 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Bobby Goldsboro (Melody Maker)
This was billed to take place at the Speakeasy and may have been transferred to Blaises or alternatively cancelled.
5 May 1968 (Sunday) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (Melody Maker)
Captain Beefheart was originally billed for the Speakeasy so most likely it was transferred to Blaises as the dates match.
8 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
13 May 1968 (Monday) – The Byrds (Melody Maker)
This was originally billed for the Speakeasy so most likely it was transferred to Blaises.
23 July 1968 – The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
Paul Griggs notes in his diary that Jimi Hendrix and Eric Burdon were in attendance that night. This was a 1 am show so probably early hours of 24 July.
28 July 1968 (Sunday) – Terry Reid & The Fantasy (Melody Maker)
17 August 1968 (Saturday) – Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker)
20 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
21 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Free (Alessandro Borri research – see comments section below)
27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Jethro Tull (Greg Russo’s research)
Huge thanks to Paul Kane for supplying this
1 September 1968 (Sunday) – Mickey Finn (Poster from Paul Kane)
2 September 1968 (Monday) –July (Poster from Paul Kane)
3 September 1968 (Tuesday) – The Village (Poster from Paul Kane)
4 September 1968 (Wednesday) – East of Eden (Poster from Paul Kane)
5 September 1968 (Thursday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Poster from Paul Kane)
6 September 1968 (Friday) – Juniors Eyes (Poster from Paul Kane)
7 September 1968 (Saturday) – London (Poster from Paul Kane)
According to Melody Maker and New Musical Express, Sly & The Family Stone were billed to play Blaises on 15 September. Apparently, they didn’t show and Roy Flynn asked The Nice’s manager Tony Stratton-Smith for help and he recommended Yes. Poster confirms Sly & The Family Stone were originally due to play
20 February 1969 (Thursday) – Majority Sun (Hounslow Post)
23 February 1969 (Sunday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)
24 February 1969 (Monday) – Pendulum (Hounslow Post)
25 February 1969 (Tuesday) – Cymbaline (Hounslow Post)
26 February 1969 (Wednesday) – The New York Public Library (Hounslow Post)
2 March 1969 (Sunday) – Affinity (Kensington Post)
4 March 1969 (Tuesday) – Sarolta (Kensington Post)
5 March 1969 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Kensington Post)
9 March 1969 (Sunday) – Terry Reid (Melody Maker)
11 March 1969 (Tuesday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)
12 March 1969 (Wednesday) – The Web (Marylebone Mercury)
16 March 1969 (Sunday) – The Pretty Things (Hounslow Post)
17 March 1969 (Monday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post)
In an interview with Stefan Granados for Shindig magazine, guitarist Pete Mizen says that The Majority were playing here when they were approached to move to France and record with the Pink Elephant label.
18 March 1969 (Tuesday) – The New York Public Library (Hounslow Post)
19 March 1969 (Wednesday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Hounslow Post)
23 March 1969 (Sunday) – Marv Johnson (Hounslow Post)
24 March 1969 (Monday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)
25 March 1969 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Hounslow Post)
28 March 1969 (Friday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post)
29 March 1969 (Saturday) – Trifle (Hounslow Post)
30 March 1969 (Sunday) – Joynt (Kensington Post)
31 March 1969 (Monday) – The Flames (Hounslow Post)
4 April 1969 (Friday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)
6 April 1969 (Sunday) – Explosive (Watson T Browne?) (Hounslow Post)
7 April 1969 (Monday) – Circus (Hounslow Post)
9 April 1969 (Wednesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)
10 April 1969 (Thursday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
12 April 1969 (Saturday) – Black Velvet (Hounslow Post)
13 April 1969 (Sunday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Hounslow Post)
14 April 1969 (Monday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post)
18 April 1969 (Friday) – Springfield Park (Hounslow Post)
19 April 1969 (Saturday) – Pure Gold (Hounslow Post)
20 April 1969 (Sunday) – The Flames (Hounslow Post)
21 April 1969 (Monday) – Jerome Arnold (Hounslow Post)
22 April 1969 (Tuesday) – The Web (Hounslow Post)
26 April 1969 (Saturday) – Village (Time Out)
28 April 1969 (Monday) – Village (Time Out)
4 May 1969 (Sunday) – King Crimson (Hounslow Post)
5 May 1969 (Monday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)
6 May 1969 (Tuesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Hounslow Post)
8 May 1969 (Thursday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)
9 May 1969 (Friday) – The Shades (Melody Maker)
10 May 1969 (Sunday) – Bob & Earl (Marylebone Mercury)
11 May 1969 (Sunday) – Black Velvet (Marylebone Mercury)
19 May 1969 (Monday) – Jerome Arnold (Time Out)
20 May 1969 (Tuesday) – The Majority (Time Out)
21 May 1969 (Wednesday) – The Milwaukee Coasters (Time Out)
22 May 1969 (Thursday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)
24 May 1969 (Saturday) – Belle Sebastian (Hounslow Post)
25 May 1969 (Sunday) – The Gods (Hounslow Post and Time Out)
26 May 1969 (Monday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post and Time Out)
10 July 1969 (Thursday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Hounslow Post)
Although advertised, Jo Jo Gunne may not have appeared as they returned from a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas in early-to-mid July.
11 July 1969 (Friday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Hounslow Post)
Located at 3 Cromwell Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, SW7, the Cromwellian Club was a notable London rock venue that was opened in late 1964 by entrepreneur Tony Mitchell and part owned and managed by Bob Archer, who later established the Pantiles club in Bagshot, Surrey. The club’s opening was reported in The Stage in its 8 October 1964 issue.
Brian Auger who played here with The Trinity claims that the Cromwellian is where Jimi Hendrix first jammed with his band after arriving in London in late September 1966, although others point to the Scotch of St James.
At its height in 1966-1967, it also hosted numerous jam sessions, featuring the likes of Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry, Eric Burdon and Eric Clapton among others.
Like other exclusive clubs like Blaises and the Scotch of St James, the entrance fee was expensive and therefore catered less for music fans and more for the celebrities of the day and wealthy clientele.
The Cromwellian was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue and posters of advertised gigs as well as band photos (all credited accordingly).
1965
Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1965-1966:
Singer Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says that James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set played there throughout this period.
Tony Richard who drummed and sang with The Fetish Crowd says that his group performed there during 1965-1966.
Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Just Four, which became The Guests, played at the venue in 1965-1966.
Guitarist/singer Stuart Cowell says he was working with Ralph Denyer’s Rockhouse Band when they performed at the Cromwellian in late 1965 before he left to join Gass.
Ray Lovegrove, who DJ’d at the venue, remembers seeing Stevie Wonder and also The Groundhogs at the club during 1965 when he was there. However, the Stevie Wonder gig could have been 26 January 1966 (see below).
The following list for 1965 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
Photo: Melody Maker
1 April 1965 (Thursday) – The Drifters (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker, 10 April 1965
5 June 1965 (Saturday) – The Soul Sisters (Melody Maker)
8 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Donnie Elbert (Melody Maker)
15 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Solomon Burke (Melody Maker)
23 June 1965 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Melody Maker)
Photo; Melody Maker
13 July 1965 (Tuesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)
23 July 1965 (Friday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)
London Life magazine for the week 9-15 October, and for subsequent issues running to December 1966 when it closed, notes that several groups played each week.
20 October 1965 (Wednesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
28 October 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
Photo: West Surrey Advertiser
Boz & The Boz People played at the Cromwellian sometime before 4 November, according to the West Surrey Advertiser (see pic)
4 November 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
11 November 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
22 November 1965 (Monday) – Wilson Pickett (Melody Maker)
2 December 1965 (Thursday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)
7 December 1965 (Tuesday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)
9 December 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
10 December 1965 (Friday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
13 December 1965 (Monday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
14 December 1965 (Tuesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)
15 December 1965 (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Melody Maker/Record Mirror) Melody Maker had Wednesday originally but it was later amended to the day after
16 December 1965 (Thursday) – Major Lance and Bluesology (Melody Maker)
Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.
Photo: Record Mirror
20 December 1965 (Monday) – Joe Tex (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)
1966
Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1966:
Keyboard player Stan Marut, who worked with Julian Covey & The Machine from late 1965-mid-1966 says the group had a regular Saturday night residency at the club in early 1966 (and also possibly late 1965 when John McVie was briefly a member when Jack Bruce filled his spot in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers). He remembers Sands were playing at the venue around the same time.
According to Chris Groom’s excellent book “Rockin’ and Around Croydon”, Croydon group The Kingpins played at the Cromwellian in early 1966.
Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Guests played at the venue during 1966 (possibly with The Shevelles).
Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says The James Royal Set played at the club this year.
Guitarist Frank Torpey, who later became an original member of The Sweet, confirms his group The Tribe played at the Cromwellian (most likely this year and possibly also 1967).
Guitarist Jim Cregan says that Blossom Toes performed at the venue (but this might have been 1967).
Ray Brown, who played bass with Jeff Curtis & The Flames from mid-1965 to late 1967 when they became The Kool, says that the band played at the Cromwellian a few times, most likely in 1966 (but also possibly early 1967).
Drummer Rocky Browne confirms that The Summer Set had a weekly residence at the Cromwellian during 1966.
Drummer Tony Richard says The Fetish Crowd played at the club during 1966.
The following list for 1966 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
4 January 1966 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
11 January 1966 (Tuesday) – Pattie La Belle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)
Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.
13 January 1966 (Thursday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror originally billed this show for 19 January.
19 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror)
Melody Maker and Record Mirror originally had The Exciters on this date but Lee Dorsey replaced them.
Record Mirror also listed this for 31 January so this may not have happened. Dorsey was most likely backed by The Krew featuring sax player Howie Casey. I also have The Sidewinders, so probably shared. They were back the following Wednesday to back Stevie Wonder.
26 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Stevie Wonder (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)
Stevie Wonder was backed by The Sidewinders (confirmed by drummer Malcolm Penn).
31 January 1966 (Monday) – Lee Dorsey (Melody Maker, Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)
Lee Dorsey was most certainly backed by The Krew.
5 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
This was 2-6am on the Sunday morning after a show at the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill on the Saturday night. Chase says The Searchers came in and watched them.
9 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)
Melody Maker and Record Mirror lists Rufus Thomas for 16 February. Steampacket did perform at the Cromwellian and it’s possible that Rufus Thomas shared the billing or even backed him. Rod Stewart co-fronted Steampacket with Long John Baldry and Julie Driscoll.
19 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
23 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker, Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)
25 February 1966 (Friday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)
2 March 1966 (Wednesday) – Solomon Burke (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)
3 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)
Future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were members.
5 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)
10 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)
12 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)
19 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)
Cromwellian, London, March 1966. Photo: Melody Maker
26 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (Melody Maker)
1 April 1966 (Friday) – The Sidewinders (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)
5 May 1966 (Thursday) – Betty Everett (Record Mirror)
Christopher Hjort’s excellent book “Strange Brew: Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970” notes that Eric Clapton attended the Cromwellian on 9 May after a gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
The 9 May marks the inception of SLAGS (Society of Looning Alcoholic Guitarists) whose members include Jeff Beck, Stevie Winwood, Vic Briggs, Pete Townshend, Steve Marriott, Andy Somers, Alan Roskams and Dave Wendels. The members will meet regularly at the Cromwellian.
In early June Melody Maker prints a “Guide to Good Raving” which lists the “in” clubs of the London scene. The Cromwellian is featured and the magazine notes that Gary Farr & The T-Bones, The Mark Leeman Five, Dave Anthony’s Moods, The Shevelles, Sands and The Peter B’s (actually The Shotgun Express) have recently played at the venue (performing until 2am).
10 June 1966 (Friday) – Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Five Proud Walkers who play at the Beachcomber Club on 18 June came from the Cromwellian.
According to the Southern Evening Echo (Southampton), The Move, who play the Adam & Eve in Southampton on 12 July, came from the Cromwellian (see above)
According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Cromwellians who play at the Beachcomber Club on 23 July came from the Cromwellian.
Photo: London Life magazine
27 July 1966 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)
Bass player Dave Aldhouse says his band The Zig Zags played the club, possibly twice, in the summer of 1966.
The Eyes of Blue, who have won Melody Maker’s National Beat Contest, celebrate with a party at the club on 7 August. Eric Clapton, Alan Price, Chris Farlowe and others attend.
According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Coletrane Union, who play at the Britannia Rowing Club on 13 August came from the Cromwellian
According to this Moody Blues site, John Lodge’s band The Question were regulars at the Cromwellian during August/September 1966 before he took up the bass slot in The Moody Blues in October.
31 August 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
20 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)
Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but the gigs in September are Tuesday nights.
21 September 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
27 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)
According to this site, Brian Auger was playing at the Cromwellian on a Friday night and had invited Jimi Hendrix to sit in with his band at this venue earlier in the week. Auger insists that this was the first place that Hendrix jammed with his band.
However, Auger did play at Blaises on Thursday, 29 September and Hendrix did sit in on that occasion, having arrived in the UK on Thursday, 22 September. According to Vic Briggs (and other sources), Hendrix also turned up and jammed with the band at the Scotch of St James on Wednesday, 28 September.
8 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
11 October 1966 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)
It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Cromwellian on 19 October (the alternative location was the Scotch of St James). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream are playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham this evening.
22 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
2 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
Photo: London Life magazine
16 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
18 November 1966 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 26 November issue, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler and Bill Wyman attended the club on this date.
30 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
According to Bruno Ceriotti, Bluesology (featuring Reg Dwight aka Elton John) played at the Cromwellian regularly during December 1966, which is where Long John Baldry saw them and took them on as his new backing group.
7 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
14 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
According to Disc & Music Echo, The Magic Lanterns visited the club the week starting 19 December but it is not clear whether they performed or just attended.
24 December 1966 (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
1967
According to Disc & Music Echo, Ray Hunter and Paul Lincoln, who had previously run The Two I’s Coffee Bar in Soho, co-ran the Cromwellian this year.
Rob Tolchard says his band Sands played the Cromwellian in January where they were spotted by Brian Epstein who hired them for his Saville Theatre show on 5 February.
Bass player Bruce Usherwood says The Warren Davis Monday Band performed at the venue several times between December 1966 and February 1967 just before they signed with Columbia Records.
The Warren Davis Monday Band’s guitarist Rob Walker concurs and notes that one of the gigs was when the band was called The Boardwalkers.
Disc & Music Echo, 14 January 1967 issue, talks about Georgie Fame’s fiancé Carmen’s 21st birthday fancy dress party, which was held at the venue on 8 January. The guests include Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Georgie Fame.
The following list for 1967 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
17 January 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
28 January 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
Disc & Music Echo reported that Del Shannon, Johnny Rivers, Edwin Starr and Dave Davies of The Kinks were guests at the club during the week starting 30 January.
According to Martyn Hanson’s excellent book Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice, Lee Jackson was part of the house band at the Cromwellian, The House of Usher during February and March 1967.
2 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
6 February 1967 (Monday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)
9 February 1967 (Thursday) – Long John Baldry & Bluesology (Fabulous 208)
11 February 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
Bobby King & The Sabres perform from 2am to 6am after playing at the Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London on the Saturday night, so this would probably be the early hours of the Sunday, 12 February.
20 February 1967 (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
23 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
25 February 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
The Good Time Losers had a residency at the club around about now, according to Melody Maker. Disc & Music Echo reported that they were managed by the club. Pretty certain it was a Saturday but needs confirmation.
4 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
11 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
18 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
25 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
3 April 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
8 April 1967 (Saturday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Disc & Music Echo)
12 April 1967 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Disc & Music Echo)
Disc & Music Echo report that Tom Jones attended. This may have been 5 April so needs confirmation
14 April 1967 (Friday) – Motivation with The James Garnet Soul and Roll Band (Swindon Advertiser) (cancelled)
Motivation (featuring future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre) are advertised to play the venue. Keyboard player Mick Ketley says they did play the Cromwellian. However, sax player Chris Rodger confirms they were in Italy until mid-May before returning home so this didn’t happen.
16 April 1967 (Sunday) – Disc and Music Echo says that The Bee Gees hold a reception at the club today
18 April 1967 (Tuesday) – Bo Diddley with The Canadians (Melody Maker)
The Canadians feature future producer and music executive David Foster on keyboards.
Disc & Music Echo’s 22 April issue says that US actress Jayne Mansfield attended the Cromwellian the previous Tuesday but the date might have been 11 April instead.
Drummer Phil Wainman, who later produced The Sweet and was playing with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers in May 1967, says Jack Hammer played at the club, which would have most likely been this month.
1 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Melody Maker, Fabulous 208 and Disc & Music Echo)
4 May 1967 (Thursday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)
8 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Record Mirror)
Photo: Melody Maker
15 May 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
17 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
22 May 1967 (Monday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
24 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
26 May 1967 (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
27 May 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
29 July 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
31 July 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
9 August 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 16 September issue, Long John Baldry keeps fit by running up the club’s stairs. Does this imply that he performed here with Bluesology during September?
1968
Guitarist/singer Paul Brett says that he played this venue during 1968, which was probably with Tintern Abbey but could have been with Elmer Gantry and/or Fire.
Drummer Paul Maher says that Jo Jo Gunne performed at the venue (possibly this year and/or 1969).
The following list for 1968 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions.
Judging by the dates below in January and February, it looks like jazz bands played on Mondays.
4 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 4 January.
8 January 1968 (Monday) – Bill Nile’s Delta Jazzmen (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
10 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)
11 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
12 January 1968 (Friday) – Garnet Mimms (Melody Maker)
15 January 1968 (Monday) – The Red Onion Jazz Band (Melody Maker)
17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
18 January 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
19 January 1968 (Friday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
22 January 1968 (Monday) – Ken Colyer’s Jazzmen (Melody Maker)
23 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
24 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
25 January 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker and Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
26 January 1968 (Friday) – Jigsaw (Melody Maker)
29 January 1968 (Monday) – Spencer’s Washboard Kings (Melody Maker)
30 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)
31 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Wee Willie Harris and The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
1 February 1968 (Thursday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)
Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 1 February.
2 February 1968 (Friday) – Clyde McPhatter and The Trend (Melody Maker)
5 February 1968 (Monday) – Alex Welsh & His Jazz Band (Melody Maker)
6 February 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)
23 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
24 August 1968 (Saturday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)
27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
28 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
30 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
31 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
6 September 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
Photo: Melody Maker
7 September 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
14 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
16 September 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
17 September 1968 (Tuesday) – Little John & The Shaddocks (Melody Maker)
18 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
19 September 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Melody Maker and Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
21 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
19 October 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
16 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
21 November 1968 (Thursday) – The Nite People (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
19 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
1969
Sax player Geoff Glover says his band The All Night Workers played at the Cromwellian when Clyde Barrow took over lead vocals from Iain Pitwell, which would have been from early 1969.
Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott says that his band Gass played here during 1969/1970.
The following list for 1969 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
20 January 1969 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
8 February 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
1 March 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
3 November 1969 (Monday) – Sky (Melody Maker)
10 November 1969 (Monday) – She Trinity (Melody Maker)
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
