Photo: Nick Simper. Left to right: Johnny Kidd, Mick Stewart, Roger Truth, Nick Simper and Ray Soper at Kingsbury Odeon on 21 May 1966
Johnny Kidd (lead vocals)
Mick Stewart (lead guitar/vocals)
Nick Simper (bass/vocals)
Ray Soper (keyboards)
Roger Truth (drums)
When legendary British singer Johnny Kidd decided to part with the original Pirates after a gig on 19 April 1966, he had some outstanding gigs to honour and hired several, temporary, groups to fulfil the bookings, one of which was west London R&B outfit Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
The band’s drummer, Pete Burt, younger brother of Dave Burt in Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, was a window cleaner and was cleaning Kidd’s windows one day when they got talking. The group played a couple of gigs with Kidd, including a naval base in Chatham, before keyboard player Ray Soper was fired.
Unknown group back Kidd as The New Pirates. Image may be subject to copyright
Interestingly, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates played at the annual Festival Gardens Gala in Battersea on 7 May but it’s very doubtful that his backing band were The Flames on this occasion as they were performing at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon on this date.
Soper decided to form a new group to carry on as Kidd’s new version of The Pirates and got hold of his friend, bass player Nick Simper, who he’d previously worked with in Buddy Britten & The Regents and Cryano & The Bergeracs during late 1964-mid-1965. Roger Truth was the drummer in both groups.
In need of a guitarist, they brought in Mick Stewart who’d, previously played with a number of west London bands, notably The Redcaps and The All-Nite Workers (who briefly backed singer Simon Scott).
16 July 1966 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Atlantic Sounds (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)
?? July 1966 – Gig in Seaton, Devon (most likely Seaton Beat Club at Seaton Town Hall)
Ray Soper left at this point and joined The Denims/Headline News
?? August 1966 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset with Eden Kane (with Peter Sarstedt on bass)
?? August 1966 – Gig in Grimsby, Lincolnshire
19 August 1966 – Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland (first date on Scottish tour) with The Red Hawks, Dunfermline Boys, The Ivy League, The Jay-Birds, The St Louis Union and David and Jonathan (http://www.adiebarrett.co.uk/johnnykidd/timeline/timeline.htm)
Image may be subject to copyright
26 August 1966 – The Leys, Clacton, Essex with Hap & Unit Four and Buzz Inc (Essex County Standard)
Image may be subject to copyright
29 August 1966 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Outer Limits (Nantwich Chronicle)
29 August 1966 – Regal Ballroom, Ripley, Derbyshire (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph) Also booked to play 12 November 1966 but cancelled
3 September 1966 – Birmingham Flower Show, Handsworth Park, Birmingham with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Sports Argus)
3 September 1966 – Gig in Orpington, Kent
19-25 September 1966 – Cabaret dates at Flamingo Club, Darlington with Robb Storme & The Whispers (with former Mojos member Lewis Collins on bass)
1 October 1966 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
6 October 1966 – Gig in Oldham (some source say Bolton), Lancashire (cancelled)
7 October 1966 – Tried to get gig at Nelson Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire but not successful
Kidd and Simper were involved in a car crash on the return journey to London in the early hours of 8 October, a few miles south of Bury, Lancashire. Simper was seriously injured. Kidd, however, was pronounced dead on his arrival at Bolton Royal Infirmary.
In the aftermath, Mick Stewart participated in a Jerry Lee Lewis tour. Then, once Simper had recuperated, Simper and Stewart hooked up with Bobby Hebb for a UK tour, debuting on 1 December 1966 while Truth joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound.
The New Pirates:
Mick Stewart (lead guitar/vocals)
Nick Simper (bass/vocals)
John Carroll (keyboards/vocals)
Roger Truth (drums)
Sometime in early February, Simper and Stewart decided to reform The New Pirates. Truth, who’d been playing with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, agreed to re-join and they brought in keyboard player John Carroll, who’d recently left Tony Knight’s Chessmen.
According to Melody Maker, The New Pirates played at the Upper Cut in Forest Gate, east London on 17 February 1967 with The Afex and The Trekkas.
Image may be subject to copyright
However, the Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express lists The Apex and Jo Jo Gunne as support.
Photo: Nick Simper. Left to right: John Carroll, Roger Truth, Nick Simper and Mick Stewart, February 1967 prior to Cornwall tour
Truth played the London show and then, a few days before a short tour of Cornwall commenced, he returned to Freddie Mack’s band, possibly for that group’s gig at the Village in Cleethorpes on 22 February.
James Smith, who’d worked with Carroll in The London Beats in 1965, auditioned but turned the job down and subsequently joined Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement in March (replacing Phil Wainman).
John Kerrison, who’d previously drummed with a number of bands, notably Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Rockin’ Eccentrics, took his place.
The revised line-up undertook the Cornwall tour and played a couple of gigs in England before heading to Scotland.
Notable gigs:
23 February 1967 – Royal Naval Air Station, Helston, Cornwall
Image may be subject to copyright
24 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall with The Hoboes (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
25 February 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Other Five (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
3 March 1967 – Gig in Welwyn Garden City, Herts (possibly Woodhall Community Centre)
24-25 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Unit 4 Plus 2, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Mack Sound
27 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Unit 4 Plus 2, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Mack Sound
Returning to London, the band found there was little demand for The New Pirates and the members started to look around for other work.
Thanks to his contacts with bass player Peter Carney who he had worked with in The Flexmen and The London Beats (and briefly Tony Knight’s Chessmen), Carroll played with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band for a few weeks (debuting on 26 April in Croydon) before Dave Greenslade was taken on as a permanent member.
According to Nick Simper’s website, The New Pirates met on 1 May 1967 to discuss their future and decided to go their separate ways.
Later that month, Simper would join Billie Davis & The Quality. However, when work dried up, he became a member of Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages during July. Next he signed up with The Flowerpot Men (September 1967-February 1968) before forming the original Deep Purple.
After his brief time with Geno Washington, John Carroll worked with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers from August 1967 through to March 1968. He then played with The Flowerpot Men briefly (just after Simper had departed). In early 1969, he was part of the backing band appearing on Stevie Wonder’s UK tour.
In late August, 1967, John Kerrison joined Episode Six who featured future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover and remained until August 1968.
After working on a few projects (including working with Don Arden’s son David), Mick Stewart joined Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement around October 1967 and stayed until April 1968. He then worked with The James Royal Set before working briefly with The Flowerpot Men in late 1968 (after Carroll had departed). During 1969, he replaced Frank Torpey in The Sweet.
Interestingly, a band called themselves The New Pirates was billed to perform the following dates, but it’s not clear who the musicians were.
2 July 1967 (for two weeks) – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
Roger Truth might have been one of the members as he left Freddie Mack at the end of June 1967.
Big thank you to Adrian Barrett, Nick Simper, Ray Soper, John Carroll, Mick Stewart and John Kerrison.
Jo Jo Gunne, late 1965/early 1966. Left to right: Don Bax, Renwick MacDonald, Alan Townsend, Doug Gordon, Ronny Butterworth and Pete Pennycate. Photo: Ronny Butterworth
Readers will be familiar with the American early 1970s rock band Jo Jo Gunne, helmed by former Spirit members Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes.
However, the first band to use the name Jo Jo Gunne was in fact a little known British R&B outfit, formed at Debrome school in Feltham, Middlesex in early-to-mid 1965.
The original line up comprised:
Ronny Butterworth – lead vocals
Simon Spackman – lead guitar
Don Bax – rhythm guitar
Alan Townsend – bass
Doug Gordon – drums
However, later that year the musicians made the decision to move in a more soul direction and took on a new lead singer, Pete Pennycate, to accommodate the new configuration.
Spackman moved from lead guitar to keyboards to allow newcomer Renwick MacDonald to join from local rivals Themselves. Butterworth and Townsend focused on trumpets and Bax took up the bass.
By early 1966, Jo Jo Gunne comprised:
Pete Pennycate – lead vocals
Renwick MacDonald – lead guitar
Simon Spackman – organ
Don Bax – bass
Alan Townsend – trumpet and trombone
Ronny Butterworth – trumpet
Doug Gordon – drums
During June 1966, the band won Melody Maker’s National Beat Competition, which was held at Brighton’s Regent Ballroom. Also, during August, they took part in the London Palladium competition.
Over the next 18 months, this line up (minus Butterworth who dropped out around November 1966 to play with Twickenham band, The All Night Workers) played the following gigs:
Photo: Middlesex Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
5 October 1965 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, west London with The Road Agents
25 February 1966 – Cavern Club, Burnley, Lancashire with The Fruitdrops May not be the same band
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
19 March 1966 – London Cavern, Holland Park, west London with supporting group
25 March 1966 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
2 April 1966 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
12 April 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Pretty Things
17 April 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Generation
14 May 1966 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
28 May 1966 – Zeeta House, Pontiac, Putney, southwest London
11 June 1966 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
18 June 1966 – Zeeta House, Pontiac, Putney, southwest London with The Roger Harris Show
Photo: Bletchley District Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright
22 July 1966 – Bletchley Young Conservatives, Coronation Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
Photo: Middlesex Chronicle, 15 July 1966. Image may be subject to copyright
6 August 1966 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
12 August 1966 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
Photo: Bletchley District Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright
13 August 1966 – Bletchley Carnival Week, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Future Set
17 September 1966 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Future Set
10 October 1966 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Future Set and The Choozey Beggars (this needs confirmation as this may be December instead)
11 November 1966 – Chesham Co-op Hall, Chesham, Bucks
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
6 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Alvin Cash & The Crawlers (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
13 January 1967 – The Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Derek Savage Foundation (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Brackley Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright
27 January 1967 – Brackley Town Hall, Brackley, Northamptonshire
Photo: Northampton Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
28 January 1967 – White Bicycle, Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Crew (billed as Jo-Jo-Gunn)
Photo: Newham, East and West Ham, Barking and Stratford Express. Image may be subject to copyright
17 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The New Pirates and The Afex (billed as Jo-Jo Gunns)
18 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The All Night Workers
22 February 1967 – St Michael’s Youth Centre, Sydenham, southeast London (billed Jo Jo Gun)
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
24 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with David Essex and Mood Indigo (billed as The Jo-Jo Gunns)
25 February 1967 – Rub-a-Dub, Reading, Berkshire
5 March 1967 – New Yorker Discotheque, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Iveys and The Inspiration
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
10 March 1967 – The New All Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, east London
According to an article in the Hounslow, Brentford and Chiswick Post, dated 5 May, Jo Jo Gunne split up in late April with Simon Spackman joining McDonald’s former band Themselves in early May while Pete Pennycate went solo.
The newspaper’s 16 June issue adds more information. It notes that bass player Don Bax was working with The Penny Blacks, the same band that would feature soon-to-be-joining members Alan Barratt, Paul Maher and Tom Marshall.
In late August 1967, Jo Jo Gunne reformed with Alan Barratt replacing Pete Pennycate on lead vocals.
The Penny Blacks, 1967. Alan Barratt (second left), Paul Maher (second right) and Tom Marshall (far right).
Barratt had started out singing with The Penny Blacks, which also included lead guitarist Tom Marshall; rhythm guitarist John Day; bass player Dave Arnold; and drummer Paul Maher.
When Barratt joined Jo Jo Gunne that summer he also brought Paul Maher with him (who took over from Doug Gordon) and recent recruit Don Bax.
Simon Spackman and Renwick MacDonald joined the new version (presumably both from Themselves, who soon changed name to Virgin Sleep). Original member Alan Townsend also rejoined.
According to Alan Barratt, the new version debuted on 8 September 1967 at the California Ballroom in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
In late 1967, Jo Jo Gunne signed a deal with Don Arden’s Starlight Agency after Amen Corner’s singer Andy Fairweather-Low recommended the band to the infamous promoter.
Amen Corner and Jo Jo Gunne had shared a billing at the California Ballroom in Dunstable on 29 September 1967 alongside rival west London band, The All Night Workers.
The All Night Workers would maintain a close link with Jo Jo Gunne and several musicians would play with both bands.
The first of these was original member, trumpet player Ronny Butterworth, who re-joined Jo Jo Gunne from The All Night Workers around late September/early October 1967.
The revamped line up now comprised:
Alan Barratt – lead vocals
Renwick MacDonald – lead guitar
Simon Spackman – organ
Don Bax – bass
Alan Townsend – trumpet and trombone
Ronny Butterworth – trumpet
Paul Maher – drums
However, around late October lead guitar player Renwick MacDonald left and another former Penny Blacks member, lead guitarist Tom Marshall joined the line up for the rest of 1967 and into spring 1968.
Jo Jo Gunne, Hampton Court Palace, circa October 1967. Left to right: Tom Marshall, Alan Barratt, Alan Townsend, Ronny Butterworth, Paul Maher, Simon Spackman and Don Bax. Photo: Tom Marshall
When Marshall left around February/March 1968 to join The Playground (and subsequently Harmony Grass and Capability Brown), Spackman moved from organ to lead guitar and keyboard player Ken Carroll joined Jo Jo Gunne.
Carroll had spent the past few months playing with a band called Deep Purple, which had been formed in late 1967, some six months before the more famous version (although there were a few other local groups across England that used the name before 1968).
The following concert dates are taken from this period:
8 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with James and Bobby Purify and The Yum Yum Band
Photo: Berkhamsted Gazette and Tring and District News. Image may be subject to copyright
23 September 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Chris Allen Band
29 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Amen Corner and The All Night Workers
Photo: Crawley Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright
1 October 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Move (spelt Jo Jo Gun)
14 October 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire with The Vistas (spelt Jo Jo Gunn)
15 October 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Jimi Hendrix Experience (they may have been replaced by The Doves at short notice)
20 October 1967 – Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Mindbenders and Tiles Big Band (Southend Standardlists this gig as 21 October 1967)
21 October 1967 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Tony Rivers and The Castaways (possibly one of MacDonald’s final gigs)
27 October 1967 – London School of Economics, central London with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera (possibly one of Marshall’s first gigs)
Photo: Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Image may be subject to copyright
5 November 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Barry Lee Show (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
11 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Symbols and The Fifth Dynasty (spelt Jo Jo Gunn)
12 November 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Modes Mode
17 November 1967 – Southlands College, Roehampton, southwest London with The Nashville Teens
Photo: Eastbourne Herald Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright
18 November 1967 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex
24 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Shevelles and The Crew
Photo: Stratford upon Avon Herald. Image may be subject to copyright
25 November 1967 – Bagatelle Club, Ettington Park Hotel, Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
8 December 1967 – Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and Reformation (billed as Jo-Jo Gun Band)
Photo: Woking Herald. Image may be subject to copyright
16 December 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
19 December 1967 – Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Reformation and Ray Bones (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Crawley Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright
24 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Exits
31 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Precisely This
Photo: Woking Herald. Image may be subject to copyright
9 January 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
21 January 1968 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with Ronnie Jones & The Q Set
26 January 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands
28 January 1968 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
Photo: Crawley Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright
10 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Doves
11 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Who
13 February 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
24 February 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Human Instinct and Almond Marizpan (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
25 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Human Instinct
28 February 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Herd
Photo: Possibly Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Image may be subject to copyright
2 March 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Mick’s Soulotek (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
9 March 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
9 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Modes Mode
10 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Fabulous Temptations (this is The Fantastics)
23 March 1968 – Feltham R&B Club, Feltham, Middlesex
Photo: Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Image may be subject to copyright
25 March 1968 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Crusaders (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Derby Evening Telegraph. Image may be subject to copyright
30 March 1968 – Clouds, Derby (billed as Jo-Jo Gunn Group)
30 March 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
31 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Original Drifters (Paul Maher filled in for The Original Drifters’ ill drummer)
11 April 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Photo: Derby Evening Telegraph. Image may be subject to copyright
13 April 1968 – Clouds, Derby (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Woking Herald. Image may be subject to copyright
15 April 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey
Photo: Berkhamsted Gazette and Tring and District News. Image may be subject to copyright
8 May 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
Photo: Greenford Post. Image may be subject to copyright
25 May 1968 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London
1 June 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
3 June 1968 – Hatchetts Playround, Piccadilly, central London
Having signed to Decca Records, Jo Jo Gunne recorded their debut single, R & H Barter’s “Every Story Has An End” c/w Don Bax and Alan Townsend’s “Should Live Like That” (Decca F 12807), which was released on 12 July 1968 but failed to chart.
Just after the recording, Carroll introduced a second singer in to the band, Mick Wheeler, who’d previously worked with Ronny Butterworth in The All Night Workers during 1966-1967 and then in Carroll’s short-lived Deep Purple in late 1967-early 1968. When Wheeler joined, he also doubled up on congas.
Jo Jo Gunne, spring 1968, just before Mick Wheeler joined. Left to right: Simon Spackman, Alan Barratt, Ronny Butterworth, Ken Carroll, Alan Townsend, Paul Maher and Don Bax
The revised line up comprised:
Alan Barratt – lead vocals
Mick Wheeler – lead vocals, congas
Simon Spackman – lead guitar
Ken Carroll – organ
Don Bax – bass
Alan Townsend – trumpet and trombone
Ronny Butterworth – trumpet
Paul Maher – drums
Around mid-July, Jo Jo Gunne were offered the opportunity to play some gigs in Saint-Tropez in France but Ronny Butterworth didn’t participate and dropped out just before the continental trip.
The line-up on the band’s debut single before Mick Wheeler joined. Photo: Record Mirror. Image may be subject to copyright
From 2 August to 5 September 1968, the band (minus Butterworth who has since died) played a nightly residency at the Club St Hilaire de la Mer in Saint-Tropez before returning to the UK.
On their return Ken Carroll left the band and went on to play with Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon. He currently works with Samtana.
The following gigs were advertised with the above line up:
12 June 1968 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset (possibly one of Wheeler’s first gigs)
15 June 1968 – Clouds, Derby (billed as Jo-Jo Gunn Group)
22 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Hoffman’s Biscuits (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
28 June 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
29 June 1968 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire
Image may be subject to copyright
6 July 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Rocky
Photo: Possibly East Kent Times & Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
12 July 1968 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Possibly Newbury Weekly News. Image may be subject to copyright
19 July 1968 – Soul Club, Plaza, Newbury, Berkshire with J J Bender & SOS
Photo: Eastbourne Herald Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
20 July 1968 – Eastbourne Town Hall, Eastbourne, East Sussex with The Soul Stars
27 July 1968 – Red Cross Hall, East Grinstead, West Sussex
28 July 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Scorpions (billed as Jo Jo Gunn) (one of Butterworth’s final gigs)
3 August 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (unlikely to have happened if they went to France)
Photo: Chester Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright
10 August 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Headline News (billed as Jo Jo Gunn) (unlikely to have happened if they went to France)
11 August 1968 – Victorian Club, Liverpool (unlikely to have happened if they went to France)
31 August 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (unlikely to have happened if they went to France)
7 September 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (one of Carroll’s final gigs)
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
12 September 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
13 September 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
18 September 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
20 September 1968 – Victoria Hall, Falkirk, Scotland (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
22 September 1968 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (this needs confirmation) (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
2 October 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
6 October 1968 – Drokiweeney, Manchester (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
12 October 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
26 October 1968 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts
Around mid-November 1968, Simon Spackman also left (and has since died) and west London guitar hero Dave Wendels (ex-Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Lulu’s backing band, The Luvvers, Tom Jones’s backing band, The Squires and The Krew) joined the band.
This new line up transformed the group and played dozens of successful gigs around the UK, including Mr Smiths in Manchester, Bournemouth Winter Gardens, Pantiles in Bagshot, Surrey plus London venues like Hatchetts Playground in Piccadilly, the Valbonne Club, Samantha’s, the Scotch of St James and Sibylla’s.
They also supported Three Dog Night on a Scottish tour. In Scotland they supported Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band, as well as playing The Electric Garden (Radio 1 club) in Glasgow.
The new line up played the following:
3 November 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Pete Kelly Solution (Paul Maher says it was cancelled)
5 November 1968 – Sibylla’s, central London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
7 November 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with PP Arnold (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
7 November 1968 – Willesden College of Technology, Willesden, northwest London with PP Arnold (possibly one of Spackman’s final gigs)
9 November 1968 – Clouds, Derby
11 November 1968 – Bamboo Club, Wilmslow, Cheshire (billed as Jo-Jo Gunn)
16 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London (possibly one of Wendels’ first gigs)
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
22 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
Photo: Eastern Evening News. Image may be subject to copyright
23 November 1968 – Cromer Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Kiss (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Re: North Norfolk News. Image may be subject to copyright
24 November 1968 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, south London
25 November 1968 – Sibylla’s, central London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
8 December 1968 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
14 December 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
16 December 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
Photo: Possibly Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph. Image may be subject to copyright
23 December 1968 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Size Seven and State Express (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
Photo: Woking Herald. Image may be subject to copyright
24 December 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton on Thames, Surrey (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
29 December 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
However, around January 1969 longstanding member Alan Townsend departed (and has since died) and Dennis Fisher came in on trumpet from the group, Mothers Ruin.
Townsend spent several months working with The All Night Workers before subsequently working with The Roy Young Band later in the year and doing a multitude of sessions.
Clockwise from top left: Dennis Fisher, Dave Wendels, Paul Maher, Mick Wheeler, Alan Barratt, Don Bax.
By now, the line up comprised:
Alan Barratt – lead vocals
Mick Wheeler – lead vocals, congas
Dave Wendels – lead guitar
Don Bax – bass
Dennis Fisher – trumpet
Paul Maher – drums
This configuration recorded the band’s second single – Potter and Dee’s “Beggin’ You Baby” c/w “Bad Penny” (Decca F 12906), which was released on 25 April 1969.
The band played the following dates:
4 January 1969 – Clouds, Derby
7 January 1969 – Whisky a Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
11 January 1969 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn, Wales with Strawberry Cartoon (billed as Jo Jo Gunn Soul Band)
15-16 January 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
25 January 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
27-28 January 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly central London
1 February 1969 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes
17 February 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly central London
18 March 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire
27 March 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly central London
5 April 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham (billed as Jo Jo Gunn Soul Show)
5 April 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
When “Beggin’ You Baby” flopped, Jo Jo Gunne split with Don Arden. According to Barratt, the singles were too poppy and did not represent the band’s live set, which was funkier/soul orientated material.
After the band proposed an album of its own material and Decca turned the opportunity down, Jo Jo Gunne split from the label.
Around Easter, Jo Jo Gunne signed with Laurie O’Leary who landed them a three-month residency in Freeport, Grand Bahamas, where they played nightly in the House of Lords club, returning in July. Wheeler has kept the outgoing flight from England, which was on the 10 April.
The following dates were advertised but were not possible as they weren’t in the UK:
9 May 1969 – Rush Common House, Abingdon, Oxfordshire with Status Quo and Fire (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
24 May 1969 – Il Rondo, Leicester
25 May 1969 – Railway, Wealdstone, northwest London
26 May 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, London
5 June 1969 – Blaises, Kensington, west London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
11 June 1969 – Revolution, central London (billed as Jo Jo Gunn)
21 June 1969 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Finnians Fogg
3 July 1969 – Revolution, central London
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
6 July 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
10 July 1969 – Blaises, Kensington, west London
Left to right: Dave Wendels, Alan Barratt, Dave Booker and Mick Wheeler, summer 1969
On their return in early-to-mid July, Dennis Fisher and Don Bax departed and the remaining quartet of Alan Barratt, Mick Wheeler, Paul Maher and Dave Wendels formed a short-lived version with Manchester bass player Dave Bowker (now David Booker) who’d previously worked with Ivan Meads, The Richard Kent Style, Kirk St James and Sponge among others. Booker had met the musicians in the Bahamas while playing with Sponge.
Left to right: Mick Wheeler, Alan Barratt, Dave Wendels and Dave Booker
The group travelled to Cologne in July/August and played the Storyville Club but on their return, Wendels and Booker both left and played with Billy J Kramer, a week-long engagement at Batley Variety Club.
Left to right: Dave Booker, Dave Wendels and Mick Wheeler, Cologne, summer ’69. Photo: Mick Wheeler
Wendels then joined The Roy Young Band while Booker joined O’Hara’s Playboys after auditioning unsuccessfully for Badfinger (Joey Molland got the job).
The short-lived line-up played the following dates:
23 August 1969 – Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Sunshine Sky
Photo: Surrey Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright
6 September 1969 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Marshall Hammond
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
12 September 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
19 September 1969 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall
Longstanding lead singer Alan Barratt was offered a backing vocal spot with The Roy Young Band but declined. He also departed around this time and later went on to sing with The Good Old Boys with Nick Simper from the original Deep Purple.
Mick Wheeler and Paul Maher then put together an entirely new version of Jo Jo Gunne.
Mick Wheeler – lead vocals
George Williams – lead guitar
Barney Barnes – organ
Billy Ball – bass
Paul Maher – drums
In early 1970, Wheeler’s former band mate from The All Night Workers, Malcolm Randall briefly took over the drum stool before Phil Chesterton came in full-time.
This new line up continued into the early 1970s and returned to Saint-Tropez for a residency. The group subsequently morphed into a later version of The Love Affair, long after its lead singer Steve Ellis had left.
Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey, 1971. Photo: Martin H Samuel
Huge thanks to Alan Barratt, Paul Maher, Mick Wheeler, Ken Carroll, Tom Marshall, Ronny Butterworth, David Booker and Dave Wendels for their help in piecing the story together.
I’d like to thank Alan Barratt, Tom Marshall, Mick Wheeler and Paul Maher for providing photos.
Thanks also to Jason Barnard at Strange Brew who originally posted this article. This is a substantially revised and updated version.
Concert dates were taken from a number of sources, mainly local and regional newspapers. Thanks to Alan Barratt for providing some live dates from late 1967-early 1968 from his personal diary. Most of the London dates were taken from Melody Maker.
West London band Wainwright’s Gentlemen are most notable for containing several musicians who went on to fame and fortune in the late 1960s and early 1970s – Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker (The Sweet).
Formed as Unit 4 in early 1963, the band’s original formation comprised lead guitarist Jim Searle, rhythm guitarist Alfred Fripp (who had previously played with Hayes, Middlesex high school band, Paul & The Alpines) and bass player/singer Jan Frewer. Soon after, the trio were joined by lead singer Chris Wright and drummer Phil Kenton.
Paul & The Alpines, 1963 with Alf Fripp far right. Photo: John Kerrison
Taking on Jan’s father, John, as the group’s manager, the musicians began gigging at youth clubs and social clubs in the Hayes, Harrow and Wembley areas.
During late 1963, however, the band changed name to Wainwright’s Gentlemen after the musicians discovered that there was another Unit 4 on the west London scene (future Brinsley Schwartz Ian Gomm’s group).
In early 1964, Wainwright’s Gentlemen became resident band at Hayes Beat Club in Hayes, Middlesex and also landed a residency at two coffee bars in London’s West End – Le Chat Qui Peche in Regent Street and the Cave St Germain in Poland Street.
Having entered the Mecca Dancing and Walls Ice Cream nationwide Beat Group contest, Wainwright’s Gentlemen appeared at Hammersmith Palais on 9 January 1964 in their area competition, beating several groups, including The Detours, who later became The Who.
Wainwright’s Gentlemen returned to the Hammersmith Palais on 6 February for the ‘Hall Final’, which the band won.
Photo: Daily Sketch cutting, 2 April 1964
Unfortunately, when the national finals were held at the Lyceum on the Strand on 4 May, the group finished fifth out of 13 bands.
Later that year, Wainwright’s Gentlemen secured a recording test at Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth but the session was not successful.
In mid-October, the band added Annette Culley as a second singer. She may have been the same Annette who sang with The Keymen.
Wright, who worked at Dawe Instruments in Acton, Middlesex, invited tenor sax player Dave Brogden from The Midnites to join the group in early November 1964 but the very night he auditioned and joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen, Wright had a falling out with Jan Frewer’s father and departed.
Selected gigs:
9 January 1964 – Mecca Dancing and Walls Ice Cream’s nationwide Beat Group Contest, Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, west London
10 January 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
11 January 1964 – Le Chat qui Peche, Regent Street, central London
6 February 1964 – Hall Final of Mecca Dancing nationwide Beat Group Contest, Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, west London
21 February 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
28 February 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
1 March 1964 – Beat contest at Watford Town Hall, Watford, Herts with others The group came third
7 March 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex
9 March 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
30 March 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
30 April 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
2 May 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop Stortford, Herts with The Marauders
4 May 1964 – Mecca Dancing nationwide Beat Group Contest finals, Lyceum Ballroom, Strand, central London with others
23 May 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
6 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with Johnny Lonesome & The Travellers adn Keith Young & The Skyways
9 June 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
12 June 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire with Manfred Mann
27 June 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
6 July 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with Rory Blackwell & His Monsters
25 July 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Four Zodiacs and The Nu-Trons
31 July 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Shades
8 August 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
13 September 1964 – Attic, Hounslow, Middlesex
25 September 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with Ken Gordon & The Downsiders
29 September 1964 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex with The Dolphins and The Beachcombers
4 October 1964 – Kihoty Club, Guildford, Surrey with The Aces and The Shieks
24 October 1964 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex (Billed as Annette with Wainwright’s Gentlemen)
Ian Gillan – lead vocals
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Dave Brogden – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
Within days of Dave Brogden joining on tenor saxophone, Wainwright’s Gentlemen brought in Chris Wright’s replacement – Ian Gillan, lead singer with Hayes, Middlesex group, The Javelins.
The new formation remained steady until early March 1965. Brogden’s diary shows that the musicians traveled to Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth on a number of dates in February (3rd, 10th, 15-16th, 19th and 28th) presumably to cut material. However, his original date sheet puts the recording dates for the three tracks that the band cut as 3rd, 8th and 15th March.
Wainwright’s Gentlemen recorded three tracks – “Ain’t That (Just Like Me)”, which has since surfaced on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod 3 CD compilation; “Que Sera Sera”; and “Slow Down”.
Thanks to Dave Brogden for sharing
At the start of March, Dave Brogden gave three months’ notice that he was leaving Wainwright’s Gentlemen to join west London group Jean & The Statesides. His first contribution to his new band was at EMI Abbey Road studio on 17 June. He would remain with The Statesides until 26 September when Phil Kenton got in touch to join him in an Irish show band at an Irish dance hall in Balham, south London (see later entry).
Around the same time, Ian Gillan started to get itchy feet and covertly started his own band Ian & The Dragsters who gigged intermittently while he remained with Wainwright’s Gentlemen until late April. Dave Brogden played with Gillan’s band on nights when Wainwright’s Gentlemen weren’t gigging.
Selected gigs:
7 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
8 November 1964 – La Dolphin Club, Baker Street, central London
12 November 1964 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
14 November 1964 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with Tony Lindell & The Cruisers
15 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
16 November 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
21 November 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Mad Hatters and Brian Ford & The Sapphires
22 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
25 November 1964 – USAF Ruislip, Ruislip, Middlesex
26 November 1964 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
29 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
30 November 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
1 December 1964 – Hammersmith Town Hall, Hammersmith, west London with The Grenades, The Impacts and The Fairlanes
3 December 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London
6 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
7 December 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
10 December 1964 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
12 December 1964 – Hammersmith Town Hall, Hammersmith, west London
13 December 1964 – Start & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
17 December 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London
18 December 1964 – Willesden Grammar School Youth Club, Willesden, northwest London
19 December 1964 – Hotel in Holborn, central London
20 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
22 December 1964 – Overseas Visitors Club, Fulham, west London
23 December 1964 – Ventures Youth Club, Greenford, Middlesex
24 December 1964 – Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey with The Downsiders
26-27 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
28 December 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
31 December 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex
1 January 1965 – Ventures Youth Club, Greenford, Middlesex
2 January 1965 – Watford Town Hall, Watford, Herts
3 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
7 January 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
8 January 1965 – Ashford Golf Club, Ashford, Middlesex
9 January 1965 – Unknown venue in West Wickham, Kent
10 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
11 January 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
14 January 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
15 January 1965 – London School of Economics, central London
16 January 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with Twinkle and The Gonks
17 January 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Leicester
20 January 1965 – Ballroom in Dartford, Dartford, Kent
21 January 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
23-24 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
27 January 1965 – Hall in Carpenter’s Park (this could be Carpenders Park, Watford)
28 January 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
29 January 1965 – Hoover Social Club, Alperton, Middlesex
30 January 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
31 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
1 February 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
5 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Unit 5
6 February 1965 – Annunciation Club, Wembley, Middlesex
7 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
11 February 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
13 February 1965 – Tottenham Town Hall, Tottenham, north London
14 February 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
17 February 1965 – London School of Economics, the Strand, central London
18 February 1965 – BOAC Social Club, Northolt, Middlesex
20 February 1965 – Railway Hotel, Greenford, Middlesex
21 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
22 February 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
23 February 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Harrow, Middlesex
25 February 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
25 February 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex (advertised in newspaper)
26 February 1965 – Kookey Nook, Windsor, Berkshire
27 February 1965 – Whetstone Hotel, Finchley, north London
28 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
Ian Gillan – lead vocals
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Dennis ??? – tenor saxophone (or Dave Brogden intermittently)
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
During early March 1965, Wainwright Gentlemen’s employed a tenor sax player called Dennis to cover for Dave Brogden, who was unable to commit to the band fully (he was working covertly and intermittently with Gillan’s band The Dragsters). Dennis, however, only lasted around a month until late March.
Even though he was leaving in mid-June to join Jean & The Statesides, Dave Brogden agreed with Jan Frewer to continue to perform with Wainwright’s Gentlemen from 1 April to 24 September whenever he was able to honour gigs (see gigs with *).
After a gig on 26 April, lead singer Ian Gillan left Wainwright’s Gentlemen to concentrate on his own group, Ian Gillan & The Dragsters. However, soon after performing a gig on 20 May with his band, Gillan joined Episode Six and later found fame with Deep Purple.
Alf Fripp (centre) with Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans, December 1965. Photo: Alf Fripp
Alfred Fripp departed on the same date as Ian Gillan and joined south London band Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans. Fripp would briefly return to Wainwright’s Gentlemen in January 1967 when Frewer was injured in a car accident and covered bass duties until Frewer recovered.
Selected gigs:
2 March 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex with The Gaylords and The Beachcombers
4 March 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
18 March 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
1 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London *
2 April 1965 – Leonian Hall, Harrow, northwest London *
3 April 1965 – Blythe Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent *
4 April 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
5 April 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, west London
8 April 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
9 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
10 April 1965 – Scala, Dartford, Dartford, Kent *
11 April 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
12 April 1965 – Co-op Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London *
15 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
16 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
17 April 1965 – Cinema in Watford, Watford, Herts *
18 April 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
19 April 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Tony Rivers & The Castaways
22 April 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
23 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
25 April 1965 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, west London
26 April 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex (Gillan and Fripp’s last gig)
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
+
Dave Brogden – tenor sax (intermittently)
The stripped back line-up played just over a week’s worth of gigs with Brogden helping out when he could make the commitment. However, around 10 May, Jan Frewer’s father brought in two new musicians – keyboard player Tyni Manning and new tenor sax player Robert Schole.
Selected gigs:
29 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
30 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
2 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
3 May 1965 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London * (this was mentioned in a newspaper cutting, dated 19 May)
6 May 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
7 May 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
8 May 1965 – Venue in Reading, Berkshire (possibly Olympia Ballroom) *
9 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
Annette Culley – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tyni Manning – keyboards
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Robert Schole – tenor saxophone
Phil Kenton – drums
The new line-up was short-lived and could have only lasted a month or so (possibly until 4 June) despite being promoted (and photographed) in the Harrow Weekly Post on 19 May.
Selected gigs:
13 May 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
15 May 1965 – St Mary’s College (most likely in Twickenham, west London)
16 May 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
20 May 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
21 May 1965 – Old Lyon Hall, Harrow, northwest London (may have been Café de Artiste in Fulham, southwest London instead but was advertised in Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 May 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
23 May 1965 – gig in Mudeford (Dorset?)
27 May 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
28 May 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
29 May 1965 – Starlite (but was this Greenford, northwest London)
30 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
2 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Melody Maker says 3 June)
3 June 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
4 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
Annette Culley – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
+
Dave Brogden – tenor saxophone (intermittently)
As agreed with Jan Frewer, Dave Brogden continued to occasionally gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (see below gigs with*) when he wasn’t working with The Statesides, who he officially joined on 17 June. This agreement to sit in with Wainwright’s Gentlemen lasted until late September.
Dave Brogden (third from left). Photo: Dave Brogden
Brogden remembers that a few days after 26 September, Wainwright Gentlemen’s drummer Phil Kenton got in touch (possibly because there was a hiatus in Wainwright Gentlemen’s gigs) and said he’d been offered an extremely well paid gig with an Irish show band performing at an Irish dance hall in Balham. The group also needed a sax player and the residency, which guaranteed three nights a week, started on 1 October.
The sax player left The Statesides and Kenton departed Wainwright’s Gentlemen to join the Irish show band but Kenton only lasted the weekend before being replaced by an Irish drummer. Kenton briefly returned to Wainwright’s Gentlemen but was clearly getting itchy feet to move on.
Brogden meanwhile lasted a few more weeks before the Irish show band stopped working and he returned to The Statesides on 29 October.
Selected gigs:
5 June 1965 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Prophets *
6 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
10 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
11 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
12 June 1965 – LSE, Malden (Surrey?)
13 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
15 June 1965 – gig in Dagenham, Essex
17 June 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
18 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
19 June 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire *
20 June 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
24 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
25 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
26 June 1965 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
27 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
3 July 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
5 July 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts
9 July 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
24 July 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
6 August 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
13 August 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
21 August 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent (Kent Messenger)
21 August 1965 – The Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with Trendsetters Ltd
28 August 1965 – Gari Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with John’s Court
11 September 1965 – Queen of Harts (location not known) *
18 September 1965 – Club de Dance, Colchester, Essex *
22 September 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London *
24 September 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
Left to right: Jim Searle, Val Cockayne, Annette Cully, Jan Frewer, Phil Kenton and Peter Cockayne, circa late 1965. Thanks to Phil Cockayne for providing.
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Val Cockayne – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Peter Cockayne – keyboards
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
Around late September, the band appeared to have stopped gigging briefly, which was when Kenton landed the gig with the Irish show band. When that didn’t work out, he returned to Wainwright’s Gentlemen who had brought in a second (female) singer Val Cockayne and her husband Peter on keyboards during the drummer’s absence.
It isn’t clear how long the Cockaynes stayed with Wainwright’s Gentlemen but possibly until November-December (and long enough to be photographed).
Peter Cockayne recalls that Mick Tucker joined shortly before the couple departed Wainwright’s Gentlemen. However, it’s also plausible that Tucker just auditioned when Kenton left to work with the Irish show band and the group held on to his details as a future replacement when Kenton did finally depart sometime in late 1965.
Selected gigs:
9 October 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone (joined slightly after Fairminer)
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Gordon Fairminer (left) and Ian Gillan (centre) with The Javelins 1964. Photo: Tony Tacon
Lead guitarist Gordon Fairminer, who had played with Ian Gillan in The Javelins and who joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen immediately after the Cockaynes left, remembers that Mick Tucker came to see the group play at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote on one occasion and that he replaced Kenton soon after. Tucker had started out in an instrumentals band with future Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Sweet guitarist Frank Torpey.
Shortly after Fairminer joined (circa November/December 1965), Wainwright’s Gentlemen also brought in tenor saxophone player Tony Hall, who had started out playing with early ‘60s west London band Peter Nelson & The Travellers. As Peter’s Faces, this group had made some recordings.
Fairminer and Searle began playing harmony solos on guitar, which was innovative for its time.
The new guitarist remembers that Wainwright’s Gentlemen had a regular Friday night residency at the Café des Artistes in Fulham from late 1965 through to 1967.
The new line up remained stable until around June-July 1966 when the musicians auditioned for another male singer and brought in Brian McManus (aka Connolly), who had previously sung with The Troop from Harefield, northwest London.
Selected gigs:
11 December 1965 – Acre Hall, Northwood, northwest London
25 June 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Band, The Paramounts, Mood Indigo and The Astrobeats
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Sometime around early November Annette Cully departed and the group continued with Brian Connolly as sole lead singer.
Selected gigs:
30 July 1966 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Reasons
24 September 1966 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge (featuring Annette)
1 October 1966 – Harrow County School for Boys, Harrow, London with The Stalkers
22 October 1966 – ABC North Harrow Bowling Centre, Moonlight Bowl, Harrow, London (featuring Annette)
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
The remaining members – Brian Connolly, Tony Hall, Jim Searle, Gordon Fairminer, Jan Frewer and Mick Tucker – recorded two demo tracks at Regent’s Sound in late 1966/early 1967, which surfaced on an acetate – “You Look So Tame” and “One of a Kind”.
On 2 January 1967, Jan Frewer, Gordon Fairminer and Mick Tucker were involved in a car crash on the way home from a gig on the south coast, possibly in Brighton.
According to Fairminer, Frewer was driving his Singer Chamois when the incident happened. The guitarist was in the front passenger seat and Mick Tucker was in the back seat.
The car hit a tree at around 50-60 mph on a wet Mortlake Road. The guitarist broke both legs. Frewer fractured his pelvis and Tucker had some internal bleeding. The bass player and drummer were both hospitalised for about a week.
Former Wainwright’s Gentlemen guitarist Alf Fripp covered for Frewer while he recovered.
Fairminer had a full length plaster on his left leg for about four to five months and half length on his right leg for about a month. While he recuperated, Jim Searle carried all the lead guitar duties.
The guitarist remembers that after the plaster was removed from his right leg, he continued to gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen and recalls a show at the Café Des Artistes in Fulham perched high at the front of the stage, with his straight plastered leg hanging over the edge of the stage with a very large black boot. Some of the audience scribbled messages on the plaster.
The Hounslow Post reported its 14 July 1967 issue, page 10, that Julie was singing with the band. However, Fairminer has no recollection of another female singer after Cully left.
Selected gigs:
12 November 1966 – Sperry FC, Bracknell, Berkshire
19 November 1966 – Winter Gardens, Banbury, Oxfordshire with The Cinette Sounds
4 March 1967 – Harrow Boys County School, Harrow, London with The Mustangs
8 April 1967 – Sperry FC, Bracknell, Berkshire with The Movement
10 June 1967 – Sperry FC, Bracknell, Berkshire with The Rite Amount
11 August 1967 – Les Jeux Interdits, Cambridge
2 October 1967 – Harrow County Boys School, Harrow, London with Two of Each
1 November 1967 – Les Jeux Interdits, Cambridge
8 November 1967 – Les Jeus Interdits, Cambridge
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Frank Torpey – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Around November 1967, former Tribe lead guitarist Frank Torpey came in for Gordon Fairminer. Jim Searle also departed at this point (if not earlier) and later became a classical guitarist.
However, Torpey (who’d started out in a band with Mick Tucker in 1962) only lasted a handful of months and by late January 1968, Frewer’s friend Robin Box had succeeded him on lead guitar. According to an article in the Harrow Observer, dated 24 October 1969, Box had previously played with The Phantoms and Five’s Company.
Torpey notes in his diary that his final gig took place on 20 January at a hospital but he doesn’t have any more details. The gigs below are from his diary (where he has firm details).
Selected gigs:
17 November 1967 – Bedford College, Regent’s Park, central London
18 November 1967 – London University, London
25 November 1967 – Gillingham, Kent (possibly Aurora Hotel)
2 December 1967 – Harrow County Boys’ School, Harrow, northwest London with Two of Each
9 December 1967 – Croydon, south London (no details)
15 December 1967 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, west London
23 December 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
31 December 1967 – Private party
Photo may need copyright. Wainwright’s Gentlemen, January 1968, left to right: Tony Hall, Robin Box, Mick Tucker, Jan Frewer and Brian Connolly
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Robin Box – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Photo may need copyright. Wainwright’s Gentlemen, January 1968
Tucker and Connolly weren’t happy with Torpey’s dismissal and in early February 1968 they left the band. The pair reunited with Torpey and together with bass player Steve Priest from another west London band, The Army, they formed The Sweet.
The Sweet, July 1968. Left to right: Steve Priest, Brian Connolly, Frank Torpey and Mick Tucker
Remaining members Robin Box, Jan Frewer and Tony Hall brought in drummer Roger Hills and, according to an article in the Harrow Observer from 24 October 1969, toured the northern clubs with Gordon Waller from Peter & Gordon.
They then toured Europe for three months, including playing at the P&N Club in Munich, West Germany as Rupert’s Spoon. Returning to the UK around late May, they toured the northern club circuit.
Selected gigs:
17 February 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey with The Effect
4 May 1968 – Harrow County Boys’ School, Harrow, northwest London with Orbit 5
1 June 1968 – Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent with The Web and The Foundations
Minus Frewer, who later went on to roadie for The Sweet, Robin Box, Tony Hall and Roger Hills found work backing The Flowerpot Men whose members included Hall’s ex-colleagues from Peter’s Faces. They toured Europe as their backing band, Rupert’s Spoon.
Hall later left to join Simon K & The Meantimes before joining Geno Washington & The Ram Jam in mid-1970. In early 1971, however, he reunited with Robin Box and Roger Hills in White Plains.
In later years Hall went on to work with the Houseshakers, Screaming Lord Sutch, Flying Fox and Chas & Dave among others and also did session work for Shakin’ Stevens and Sheena Easton.
Huge thanks to Dave Brogden (who very kindly shared his diary entries), Jan Frewer, Alf Fripp, Val Cockayne, Phil Cockayne, Frank Torpey, Gordon Fairminer, Tony Tacon and Tony Hall for helping with the story. I’d also like to credit Mark Lay’s book on the band’s early years.
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.
Gigs above were sourced from many newspapers and magazines. This is not a complete list but includes Melody Maker, Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Walthamstow Guardian, Hayes Gazette, Yarmouth Mercury, Herts & Essex Observer, Hertfordshire Express, Harrow Observer & Gazette, Woking Herald, Cambridge News, Surrey Advertiser and Evening Argus.
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 266a Fulham Road, in southwest London, the Café des Artistes apparently opened its doors around 1960.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richard and Brian Jones briefly lived close by in an apartment in Edith Grove, Chelsea during 1962 but it’s not clear when this small basement club first began putting on live music.
It’s more than likely that the Café des Artistes only featured up and coming local bands.
Also, its close proximity to the Pontiac Club in Putney means it might also have featured some of the same groups.
The dearth of information on this little known club isn’t helped by the fact that none of the local newspapers, as far as I am aware, advertised shows. I would welcome any further information from readers.
Image provided by George Parnell
Status Quo front man Francis Rossi confirms in his book that The Spectres (who morphed into Status Quo) had a Monday night residency here while they were still at school and also played the El Partido in Lewisham. I’ve found gigs for them performing at the latter in October 1965, so it could well be the same time period.
Sax player Dave Brogden who worked with West London R&B band, Wainwright’s Gentlemen, provided the following dates from his diary. Future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan was briefly a member during this period and also drummer Mick Tucker, who went on to join The Sweet, also worked with this band while Brogden played sax for them.
1964
24 March – The Five Embers (needs source – possibly Melody Maker)
28 March – Millie & The Five Embers (needs source – possibly Melody Maker)
1965
9 April – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary) With Ian Gillan on vocals
16 April – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary) With Ian Gillan on vocals
23 April – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary) With Ian Gillan on vocals, who left after a gig on 26 April
30 April – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
7 May – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary) Mick Tucker joined on drums around this time
28 May – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
4 June – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
11 June – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
18 June – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
25 June – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
3 July – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
9 July – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
6 August – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
10 August – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s diary)
13 August – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
24 September – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
I have been unable to find any gigs for 1966, 1967 and 1968 but I presume it still put on live shows. I have only found a couple of gigs for 1969 below and would welcome any additional information
An article in the Westminster & Pimlico News, dated 25 August 1967, says the group Jon are residents at the club around this time
1968
27 June – Toast (Melody Maker)
3 July – Toast (Melody Maker)
11 July – Toast (Melody Maker)
31 October – Toast (Melody Maker)
1969
6 February – Toast (Melody Maker)
5 June – Black Velvet (Time Out)
An article in the Western Daily Press and Times and Mirror, dated 26 June 1969, says Bath group, The Mirror are residents at the club around this time
Welcome to another posting in a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on and, where possible, I have added the sources used, whether they are newspapers or websites. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
THE MAZE:
Rod Evans (lead vocals)
Roger Lewis (guitar)
Chris Banham (organ)
Eric Keene (bass)
Ian Paice (drums)
The following are billed as MI5. They started using the name The Maze in November 1966 but occasionally used the MI5 for a month or so.
1966
12 May 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Tybern Ashes (Aldershot News)
16 July 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The 5 AM Event and The Rigg (Warrington Guardian)
Image may be subject to copyright
The 22 July 1966 edition of the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express, page 5 (see above) has a good story and picture on the band
27 July 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
30 July 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Ultimate (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)
31 July 1966 – Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Dave Berry, Geneve, Oscar, Wolf and Griff and The Stuart Taylor Trio (Yarmouth Mercury)
13 August 1966 – St Clement’s Hall, Southend, Essex with The Avengers and The Spooks (Southend Standard)
19 August 1966 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex with support (Southend Standard)
21 August 1966 – Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Freddie & The Dreamers Oscar, Geneve, The Versions and The Stuart Taylor Trio (Yarmouth Mercury)
8 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
10 September 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) Billed as MI5
12 September 1966 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
14 September 1966 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
3 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Artwoods (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
5 October 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Fabulous 208) Billed as MI5
Image may be subject to copyright
29 October 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Squares and The Colts (Warrington Guardian) Billed as MI5
14 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 November 1966 – Wy-Key Club, Burnham Lane, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Maze, formerly MI5) (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
Image may be subject to copyright
19 November 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website/Hastings and St Leonard Observer) Billed as MI5
26 November 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Ultimate (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)
22 December 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)
31 December 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Mistake and The Others (Warrington Guardian)
1967
Image may be subject to copyright
7 January 1967 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with two surprise groups (Warrington Guardian) Formerly MI5
20 January 1968 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Missing Links (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)
3 February 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Peeps and The Carlton Davies Combo (Warrington Guardian) Did this happen?
Image may be subject to copyright
The band went and played in Milan, Italy in January for three months, according to the Windsor, Slough & Eton Express (see above). This includes rehearsing at the Piccolo Theatre with the opening night on 15 February.
20-21 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (Melody Maker)
29 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Moody Blues (Melody Maker)
3 June 1967 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Technique and The In-Time (Warrington Guardian)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 June 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
15 June 1967 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Sneakers (Aldershot News)
Image may be subject to copyright
23 June 1967 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland (City Week)
1 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Gorleston, Norfolk with The Soul Doubt (Yarmouth Mercury)
8 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Gorleston, Norfolk with Deep Purple (Eastern Evening News)
14 July 1967 – Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Delroys Good Good Band (Worcester Evening News)
15 July 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Y Division (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)
20 July 1967 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Shame (Aldershot News)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 July 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
23 July 1967 – Royal Ballrooms, Boscombe with The Freebooters (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
June 1969 listing at Revolution. Image from Don Powell’s website (see link below).
The Revolution Club was a popular rock venue in Bruton Place, Mayfair, central London that opened around January 1968. Yes were regulars and other notable outfits like Deep Purple also played there.
Jim Carter-Fea who managed Blaises and the Speakeasy also managed the Revolution.
I have started to compile a list of artists that performed there but would welcome any additions/corrections and photos.
1968
Melody Maker’s 27 January issue notes that Blues Train, The Downliners Sect, Monopoly and The Web were set to appear at the Revolution.
I think also Linda Lewis and Junior Kerr’s band White Rabbit may have played in February 1968.
Bass player Mo Umansky says his band Mr Mo’s Messengers played here too, most likely in 1968.
18 January (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
19 January (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
20 January (Saturday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
22 January (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 January (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
26 January (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
17 April (Wednesday) – Delroy Williams (with The Sugar Band) (Melody Maker)
23 April (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
24 April (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Drummer Keith Guster says that the group rehearsed at the venue over three days ahead of its performance at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland on 27 April.
25 April (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
According to Keith Guster this was the second day that The Fleur De Lys rehearsed at the Revolution before the Swiss festival.
26 April (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
According to Keith Guster this was the third day that The Fleur De Lys rehearsed at the Revolution before heading to Switzerland for the Montreux festival on 27 April.
27 April (Saturday) – Ike & Tina Turner (Melody Maker)
22 May (Wednesday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
18 June (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
19 June (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
24 June (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 June (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
26 June (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Keith Guster says that The Web played this night after his group had rehearsed at the Revolution.
27 June (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
28 June (Friday) – Circus (Melody Maker)
11 July (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
12 July (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
17 July (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
New Musical Express’ 3 August issue has a large spread on the club and notes that Ike & Tina Turner, Tim Rose and Eric Burdon & The New Animals had appeared recently. The music magazine says that Ben E King and O C Smith will appear soon.
New Musical Express adds that the club is open from Monday to Saturday every week. It notes that John L Watson & The Web, Terry Reid Fantasia and John Drevars’ Expression play regularly at the Revolution. When its reporters attended (presumably in late July), Pattie LaBelle & The Bluebells were performing.
8 August (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
14 August (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
16 August (Friday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
5 September (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
New Musical Express has Canned Heat performing on 5 September.
9 September (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
24 September (Tuesday) – Glass Menagerie (Melody Maker, Time Out and Fabulous 208)
New Musical Express lists Sly & The Family Stone for 24 September but it is doubtful this happened.
25 September (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
30 September (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
14 October (Monday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
15 October (Tuesday) – Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity (New Musical Express)
17 October (Thursday) – The Grateful Dead (New Musical Express)
22 October (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
23 October (Wednesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
29 October (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
According to guitarist Peter Mizen, in an interview with Stefan Grandos, The Majority played at the Revolution shortly after he joined in October 1968.
Please note: this listing is not definitely November 1968 but a few of the dates e.g. Shy Limbs and Muddy Waters tally with below
1 November (Friday) – The Shy Limbs (Melody Maker)
12 November (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
13 November (Wednesday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
19 November (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 November (Monday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
27 November (Wednesday) – Muddy Waters (Time Out)
30 November (Saturday) – The Idle Race (Time Out)
10 December (Tuesday) – The Isley Brothers with Art Regis & Brass Cannon (New Musical Express)
The Isley Brothers’ gig was cancelled at the last minute. It sounds like the entire tour may have been cancelled.
3 June (Tuesday) – The Marbles and The Majority (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
4 June (Wednesday) – Root and Jenny Jackson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
5 June (Thursday) – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker and gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
6 June (Friday) – The Flames (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
7 June (Saturday) – Arcadium (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
9 June (Monday) – King Crimson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
10 June (Tuesday) – Three Dog Night and The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
11 June (Wednesday) – Jo Jo Gunn (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
This was the original, UK Jo Jo Gunne, formed in Feltham in late 1965. Although advertised, the band didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.
12 June (Thursday) – The Ohio Express (Melody Maker)
The Majority may also have played on 12 June.
13 June (Friday) – Circus (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
16 June (Monday) – Samson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
17 June (Tuesday) – Chris Barber (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
18 June (Wednesday) – Terry Reid (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
19 June (Thursday) – The Wallace Collection (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website and Time Out)
20 June (Friday) – Sk’boo (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
21 June (Saturday) – Heaven (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
23 June (Monday) – The Springfield Park (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
24 June (Tuesday) – The Web (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
25 June (Wednesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
26 June (Thursday) – Sarolta (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
27 June (Friday) – The Flames (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
This is the South African band that recorded as The Flame (see below).
28 June (Saturday) – Deep Purple (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website and Time Out)
30 June (Monday) – The Majority (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
2 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
3 July (Thursday) – Jo Jo Gunne (possibly Melody Maker)
Although advertised, the band didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.
4 July (Friday) – Arrival (possibly Melody Maker)
5 July (Saturday) – Cressida (possibly Melody Maker)
7 July (Monday) – Babylon (possibly Melody Maker)
8 July (Tuesday) – Samson (possibly Melody Maker)
9 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
10 July (Thursday) – The New York Public Library (possibly Melody Maker)
14 July (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (possibly Melody Maker)
16 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
17 July (Thursday) – The Web (possibly Melody Maker)
19 July (Saturday) – Phase of Reality (possibly Melody Maker)
21 July (Monday) – Velvet Opera (possibly Melody Maker)
23 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
24 July (Thursday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (needs source)
25 July (Friday) – Circus (Time Out)
28 July (Monday) – Entire Sioux Nation (possibly Melody Maker)
30 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
31 July (Thursday) – Audience (possibly Melody Maker)
13 August (Wednesday) – Deep Purple (Melody Maker)
18 August (Monday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Melody Maker and Time Out)
20 August (Wednesday) – Deep Purple (Time Out)
Melody Maker lists Marsha Hunt & White Trash on 20 August so perhaps Deep Purple didn’t play as billed for the previous Wednesday.
22 August (Friday) – Audience (Melody Maker)
26 August (Tuesday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
27 August (Wednesday) – The Wallace Collection (Melody Maker)
28 August (Thursday) – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)
30 August (Saturday) – Freedom (Time Out)
2 September (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
4 September (Tuesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)
7 October (Tuesday) – Ruby James (Time Out)
14 October (Tuesday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
16 October (Thursday) – Members of Hair cast (Time Out)
17 October (Friday) – Lee Dorsey (Time Out)
23 October (Thursday) – Renaissance (Time Out)
24 October (Friday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)
25 October (Saturday) – Pink Cheeks (Time Out)
27 October (Monday) – Poet & The One Man Band (Time Out)
28 October (Tuesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
30 October (Thursday) – Rada Krishna Temple (Time Out)
31 October (Friday) – Audience (Time Out)
4 November (Tuesday) – Delaney & Bonnie (Time Out)
12 November (Wednesday) – Fat Mattress (John Warburg’s research)
13 November (Thursday) – Skin Alley (possibly Melody Maker)
20 November (Thursday) – Gene Vincent (John Warburg’s research)
22 November (Saturday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
27 November (Thursday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker and Time Out)
2 December (Tuesday) – Chicago Transit Authority (Time Out)
4 December (Thursday) – Billy Preston and Timebox (Time Out)
5 December (Friday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
8 December (Monday) – Gary Hamilton (Time Out)
Former lead singer with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement and part of the Hair cast.
9 December (Tuesday) – The Liverpool Scene (Time Out)
16 December (Tuesday) – Hawkwind (Melody Maker)
Time Out has Skin Alley on 16 December.
18 December (Thursday) – The Box Tops (Time Out)
The Box Tops’ UK tour may have been cancelled.
20 December (Saturday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
22 December (Monday) – Linda Kendricks (Time Out)
23 December (Tuesday) – Pavement (Time Out)
26 December (Friday) – Murray Head and Salt & Pepper (Time Out)
29 December (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Time Out)
1970
15 January (Thursday) – Kenny Rogers & The First Edition (Melody Maker)
22 January (Thursday) – The Web (Time Out)
24 January (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)
27 January (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)
28 January (Wednesday) – Marsha Hunt (Time Out)
10 February (Tuesday) – The Rainbow People (Time Out)
17 February (Tuesday) – Cressida (Time Out)
19 February (Thursday) – Freddy King (Melody Maker)
20 February (Friday) – Skin Alley (Melody Maker)
25 February (Wednesday) – Genesis (Melody Maker and Time Out)
5 March (Thursday) – The Graham Bond Initiation (Melody Maker)
24 March (Tuesday) – The Wild Angels (Time Out)
25 March (Wednesday) – The Shy Limbs (Time Out)
26 March (Thursday) – Heavy Jelly (Time Out)
27 March (Friday) – Freedom (Time Out)
28 March (Saturday) – The New Arrivals (Time Out)
30 March (Monday) – Rada Krishna Temple (Time Out)
14 May (Thursday) – Lord Sutch (Time Out)
18 June (Thursday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
24 June (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Melody Maker)
26 June (Friday) – Black Velvet (Time Out)
29 July (Wednesday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)
8 August (Saturday) – Flare (Time Out)
10 August (Monday) – Kingdom (Time Out)
12 August (Wednesday) – Paladin (Time Out)
14 August (Friday) – Osibisa (Time Out)
15 August (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)
17 August (Monday) – Deep Joy (Time Out)
18 August (Tuesday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)
19 August (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Time Out)
20 August (Thursday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
21 August (Friday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)
25 August (Tuesday) – Elton John (Time Out)
27 August (Thursday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)
29 August (Saturday) – Mirrors (Time Out)
4 September (Friday) – Cressida (Melody Maker)
5 September (Saturday) – Deep Joy (Time Out)
19 September (Saturday) – Osibisa (Time Out)
13 October (Tuesday) – Kiss (Melody Maker)
28 November (Saturday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
This was the South African band, The Flames (see above)
The Speakeasy club, located at 48 Margaret Street in London, was a notable music venue that opened in December 1966.
During its heyday, the club was frequented by record industry and artist agency executives who in turn brought in many bands, hoping to land a record deal.
Many notable British bands played at the club during the 1960s, including The Move, The Soft Machine, Traffic, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Pink Floyd. I’ve started a list below but would welcome any additions and any memories of the venue.
Jim Carter-Fea who managed Blaises (and later the Revolution) was also behind the Speakeasy.
29 December (Thursday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Disc & Music Echo)
1967
According to Disc & Music Echo, Roy Flynn and Mike Carey operated the club from early 1967. Apparently, the club was officially opened on 4 January.
Sometime in 1967, New Zealand/US band The New Nadir played at the club and Jimi Hendrix sat in. The band’s bass player was the late Gary Thain who went on to The Keef Hartley Band.
18 January (Wednesday) – Family (Melody Maker)
19 January (Thursday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Melody Maker)
Disc & Music Echo reported that The New Vaudeville Band attended the Speakeasy’s club party during the week starting 6 February.
14 February (Tuesday) – The Valentine’s Day Massacre party (Disc & Music Echo)
Disc & Music Echo reported that Roger Daltry from The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Pretty Things attended this party.
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 25 March issue, the new Track label had its launch party at the Speakeasy this week with guests including Michael Caine, Terence Stamp, Bobby Moore, Simon & Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix and The Who. The website link suggests it was 16 March.
19 March (Sunday) – Dudley Moore (Disc & Music Echo)
Disc & Music Echo reported that John Lennon and Paul McCartney from The Beatles, Brian Jones, Eric Burdon, The Bee Gees and The Jimi Hendrix Experience attended Amen Corner’s show. Hendrix also sat in with the band.
15 May (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)
Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.
Procol Harum also played on this date. Disc & Music Echo’s 3 June issue reported that all four Beatles, Georgie Fame, Chris Farlowe, Cat Stevens, Eric Burdon, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry attended The Procol Harum gig. This website has more information.
29 May (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)
Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.
The music magazine reported that Jimi Hendrix, Denny Laine, Brian Jones, Peter Asher and Terence Stamp were among those in the audience.
5 June (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)
Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.
8 June (Thursday) – Amen Corner (Melody Maker)
Disc & Music Echo reported that Jimi Hendrix, Denny Laine and Eric Burdon were in the audience.
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 10 June issue, Eric Burdon told stories and Brian Auger had a “happening” sometime this week.
The same issue reported that guests at the club had included The Beach Boys, The Turtles, Mary Wells, Ben E King, The Byrds and the Stax-Volt tour.
12 June (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)
Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation. Disc & Music Echo’s 10 June issue did report that they played Mondays.
14 June (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Disc & Music Echo)
This date needs confirmation but the magazine’s 17 June issue reported that Marmalade played here and John Lennon and Paul McCartney attended. The Scottish band also played at the Speakeasy on 12 July.
28 June (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Fabulous 208)
12 July (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Disc & Music Echo)
The music magazine reported its 15 July issue that John Lennon, Graham Nash, Spencer Davis, Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Gary Leeds, Eric Clapton, Georgie Fame, Keith Moon and Roger Daltry were among the guests. It’s possible, however, that this event took place on the previous Wednesday, 5 July.
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 9 September issue, Alan Price, Mitch Mitchell, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Keith West were among the guests at Fairport Convention’s show.
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 14 October issue, Scott McKenzie and The Mamas & The Papas went to the Speakeasy on the Friday to celebrate Mama Cass’s clearance at West London of theft charges. Most likely it was 6 October to see Eric Burdon & The Animals play but needs confirmation.
As this website notes, the band reportedly were in attendance when a jam took place – see The Electric Prunes website for more information.
According to Disc & Music Echo, sometime in the week starting 11 December, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation played and Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Alan Price attended the show.
Spooky Tooth may also have played their debut show at the Speakeasy this month but this needs confirmation.
6 December (Wednesday) – The Foundations (Disc & Music Echo)
The music magazine reported that The Spencer Davis Group, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Manfred Mann and Mick Wilsher from The New Vaudeville Band were among the guests at the after party following The Foundations’ gig.
10 December (Sunday) – The Moody Blues (Disc & Music Echo)
14 December (Thursday) – Fairport Convention (Disc & Music Echo)
The magazine reported that Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix attended The Fairport Convention show.
16 January (Tuesday) – Procol Harum (New Musical Express)
27 January (Saturday) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (New Musical Express)
This was probably either 26 or 28 January instead as Keith Guster confirms that his band The Fleur De Lys played this evening. His diary also notes that Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell joined the band for a 45 minute jam onstage.
4 February (Sunday) – Jimmy McGriff (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
5 February (Monday) – Jethro Tull (Greg Russo’s gig diary)
29 February (Thursday) – Sharon Tandy & The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Keith Guster confirms that The Fleur De Lys did two 15-minute sets. They then backed singer Sharon Tandy for 30 minutes; singer Donnie Elbert for 30 minutes and then both singers for 20 minutes.
19 April (Friday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)
25 April (Thursday) – Ike & Tina Turner (New Musical Express)
26 April (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
On Saturday, 27 April, a fire broke out and gutted the Speakeasy, according to Melody Maker’s 4 May issue. The fire caused £20,000 worth of damage. Roy Flynn, the club’s co-owner, said that the Speakeasy could not be re-opened for about three months and gigs would be transferred to Blaises and promoted as “Speakeasy at Blaises”.
28 April (Sunday) – Ike & Tina Turner (Melody Maker)
The above gig was either cancelled or moved to Blaises.
30 April (Tuesday) – Bill Haley & The Comets (Melody Maker)
The above gig was either cancelled or moved to Blaises.
1 May (Wednesday) – Bobby Goldsboro (Melody Maker)
The above gig was either cancelled or moved to Blaises.
5 May (Sunday) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (Melody Maker)
The above gig, if it happened, would have taken place at Blaises.
12 May (Sunday) – The Byrds (needs source)
The above gig, if it happened, would have taken place at Blaises – see that entry for more information (link through to this).
16 June (Sunday) – PP Arnold (with TNT) (Melody Maker)
This gig took place at Blaises and was billed as “Speakeasy at Blaises”.
30 June (Sunday) – The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)
This gig took place at Blaises and was billed as “Speakeasy at Blaises”.
Melody Maker’s 29 June issue (page 3) noted that the Speakeasy would reopen in September (but this was not the case).
18 July (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
See the Blaises entry for more information on this.
New Musical Express reported that Roy Flynn planned to reopen the Speakeasy on 13 December 1968.
The above gig looks like the reopening of the club after seven months’ closure.
According to the East of Eden website, the band played at the Speakeasy in December with Taj Mahal. Mahal took part in The Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus on 11 December, so it’s quite possible if the club reopened on 13 December that Mahal and East of Eden played the following day (Saturday, 14 December) but this needs confirmation.
Beside Southall Community Centre, another popular venue in the west London suburb was the White Hart.
According to Terry O’Connor, The Chris Barber Band and Johnny Dankworth played the White Hart regularly during the 1950s. He also remembers Acker Bilk played here regularly.
O’Connor also remembers that Pat Cresswell & The Crestas were regulars at the White Hart.
The Statesmen, who later changed name to The Statesides and Jean & The Statesides had a regular residency at the White Hart in the early 1960s (see below). Future Animals’ guitarist Vic Briggs was briefly a member in 1962.
The Who played the venue quite a few times and Jimmy Royal & The Hawks were also regulars. Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers who featured Ritchie Blackmore on guitar also played here.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals (with future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell and Danny McCulloch, who was later in The Animals) also played frequently.
During 1964, future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan’s band The Javelins performed at the club quite a few times.
Later in the 1960s, future Queen guitarist Brian May’s band 1984 played at the White Hart.
The gigs below are incomplete so I would be interested to hear from anyone that can add any further dates in the comments section.
1960
12 September (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
This west London band morphed out of The Rocking Versatiles (formed September 1957) and included long-standing member Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), who remained with the group throughout its various incarnations (and name changes) until finally splitting on 1 July 1966. The band had regular residencies at this club as the huge number of bookings below show.
At this point, The Statesmen comprised Ray Heath (vocals), Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bob Kendall (rhythm guitar), Terry Crook (bass/piano) and Dave Evans (drums).
17 September (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
19 September (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 September (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 September (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 October (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 October (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 October (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 October (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 October (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 October (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 November (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 November (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 November (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 November (Tuesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 December (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 December (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
The Statesmen’s singer Ray Heath left on 28 December.
1961
2 January (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 January (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 January (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 January (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 January (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Keyboard player and sax player Bill Stemp joined in time for the above gig and, like Jeff Sturgeon, remained with the band until its demise in July 1966.
6 February (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 February (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 February (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 March (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 March (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 March (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 March (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 March (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 April (Monday) (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 April (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 April (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 April (Thursday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 May (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 May (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 May (Saturday) – Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Ritchie Blackmore had joined Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers on lead guitar by now.
15 May (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 May (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 May (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Jeff Sturgeon notes that Paul Clarke from James Royal & The Hawks played lead guitar on 29 May gig.
5 June (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 June (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
The 12 June was rhythm guitarist Bob Kendall’s final gig with The Statesmen.
19 June (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 June (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 July (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 July (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 July (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 July (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 July (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 August (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 August (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 August (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
From 18 October to 1 December, numerous (and notable drummers) covered for Dave Evans, who left at the end of the year: Micky Waller, Eddie Thorpe, Terry Sealy and Carlo Little.
The Statesmen’s bass player Norman Merchant left on 22 December followed six days later by drummer Dave Evans. Steve Frankel took Evans’ place behind the kit.
Future Animals’ guitarist Vic Briggs, whose first significant band was The Cruisers Rock Combo (formed mid-late 1960), says his next group (after a brief stint with The Echoes), Mike Allen & The Sidekicks played regularly at the White Hart after forming around October 1961.
1962
New bass player Mick Tobias joined on 30 January.
23 February (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Vic Briggs joined on rhythm guitar and debuted on 2 March at the White Hart. Briggs had recently been playing with another White Hart regular, Mike Allen & The Sidekicks. The band had split when singer Mike Ledger and drummer Mick Underwood joined The Crescents.
2 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Mick Tobias left The Statesmen on 25 March.
30 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Mick Tobias’ replacement Mick Wilkinson joined on 4 April. Wilkinson had played in Mike Allen & The Sidekicks with Vic Briggs.
6 April (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 April (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Vic Briggs left The Statesmen on 18 April. His replacement was David Hinds. Briggs next joined Peter Nelson & The Travelers and then in September 1962 worked with The Shel Carson Combo, turning fully pro. He left this band in May 1963.
Shortly after Briggs left, Derek Bridges took over vocal duties. Bridges had previously worked with Briggs in The Cruisers Rock Combo.
4 May (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 May (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 May (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 May (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 May (Saturday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Statesmen (Brian Mansell’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Frankie Reid & The Casuals’ line up at this time features future Animals bass player Danny McCulloch and future Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell.
1 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 June (Saturday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
15 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Jeff notes that Micky King (aka Borer) from James Royal & The Hawks played lead guitar on 22 June in his place.
23 June (Saturday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Statesmen (Brian Mansell’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 July (Monday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
6 July (Friday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Statesmen (Brian Mansell’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 July (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 July (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 July (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 July (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 July (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 July (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 August (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 August (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 August (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 August (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 August (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 August (Friday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Statesmen (Brian Mansell’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Terry Mabey had replaced Mitch Mitchell in The Casuals by now. Mitchell will deputise in The Statesmen in October 1962.
25 August (Saturday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Statesmen (Brian Mansell’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 August (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 September (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 September (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 September (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 September (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 September (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Recent additions Mick Wilkinson (bass) and David Hinds (rhythm guitar) and drummer Steve Frankel all departed on 16 September.
Mick Wilkinson recalls that David Hinds tried to put together a new band that he believes included Mitch Mitchell. Wilkinson was briefly involved but left to work with several other bands, including an Ealing group called The MI5.
21 September (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 September (Saturday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
New bass player Mick Bloomfield and rhythm guitarist Dave Hovington debuted on 28 September. Both will remain with the group until its demise in July 1966 and both had previously been members of The Cruisers Rock Combo with Vic Briggs and Derek Bridges.
28 September (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 September (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 October (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
New drummer Ian Walker debuted on 6 October and will remain with the band until its demise in July 1966. Walker is another former member of The Cruisers Rock Combo.
12 October (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 October (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell subbed for Ian Walker on 12-13 October gigs.
19 October (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 October (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 October (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 October (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 November (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 November (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 November (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 November (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 November (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 November (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 November (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 December (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 December (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 December (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 December (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 December (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 December (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 December (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 December (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 December (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1963
Dave Wigginton, bass player with Jeff Curtis & The Flames, remembers the band played at the White Hart a couple of times, most likely in 1963.
4 January (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 January (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 January (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell subbed for Ian Walker on 11 January gig.
18 January (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 January (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 February (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
After former Outlaws drummer Mick Underwood has filled in Ian Walker who has gone into hospital for one gig, Terry Sealy stepped in for 1 February gig.
2 February (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Carlo Little from Screaming Lord Sutch’s band deputised on drums for 2 February gig.
8 February (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 February (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 February (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 February (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 March (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 March (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 March (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 March (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 April (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 April (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
19 April (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 April (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Jean Hayles joined the band at this point after Derek Bridges left on 28 April and they worked as The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles until 15 June.
Former member Mick Wilkinson remembers seeing Derek Bridges singing with The Fleerekkers after he left The Statesmen.
3 May (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 May (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 May (Saturday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 May (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 May (Saturday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 May (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 May (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 June (Saturday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 June (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 June (Saturday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 June (Friday) – The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
The band is now called Jean & The Statesmen.
22 June (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 July (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
19 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Ian Walker went on holiday and Mitch Mitchell filled in for two gigs, including 19 July before Charlie Chapman from James Royal & The Hawks covered for 20 July.
26 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 September (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 September (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 September (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 September (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 September (Monday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 October (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 October (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 October (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 October (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 October (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 October (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 November (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 November (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 November (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 November (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 December (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 December (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 December (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 December (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 December (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 December (Tuesday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 December (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 December (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 December (Tuesday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1964
3 January (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 January (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 January (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 January (Monday) – Art Wood Combo (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
17 January (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 January (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 February (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 February (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 February (Saturday) – The Javelins and Jean & The Statesmen (Tony Tacon’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan was the singer with The Javelins. He left in November to join Wainwright’s Gentlemen.
21 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 February (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 March (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 March (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 March (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 March (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 March (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 March (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 March (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 April (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 April (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 April (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 April (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 April (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Carlo Little subbed for Ian Walker on drums on 18 April gig.
24 April (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 May (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 May (Friday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
The band had changed name to Jean & The Statesides on 15 May.
22 May (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 June (Saturday) – The Who and Jean & The Statesides (Andy Neill’s research and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 June (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 June (Monday) – The Javelins (Tony Tacon’s gig diary)
18 June (Thursday) – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
19 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 June (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 June (Monday) – The Javelins (Tony Tacon’s gig diary)
25 June (Thursday) – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
27 June (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 June (Monday) – The Javelins (Tony Tacon’s gig diary)
3 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 July (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 July (Monday) – The Javelins (Tony Tacon’s gig diary)
17 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 July (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 July (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 August (Thursday) – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
7 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 August (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 August (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 September (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 September (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 September (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 September (Friday) – Jimmy Royal & The Hawks and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary and Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
26 September (Saturday) – Jimmy Royal & The Hawks and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary and Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
2 October (Friday) – Jimmy Royal & The Hawks and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diaryand Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
3 October (Saturday) – Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (and Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
10 October (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 October (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 October (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 October (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 October (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
6 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 November (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 November (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 December (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 December (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 December (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 December (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Pete Ross, guitarist with The Flexmen, says that his group played at the White Hart quite a bit between mid-1964 and early 1965 (see photo at the very end).
Jean & The Statesides 1965. Left to right: Bill Stemp, Ian Walker, Dave Brogden, Jean Hayles, Jeff Sturgeon, Mick Bloomfield and Dave Hovington. Photo from Jeff Sturgeon.
1965
1 January (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 January (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 January (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 January (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
19 February (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 March (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 March (Friday) – Mike Dee & The Prophets (Don Martin’s gig diary)
9 April (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 April (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 May (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
This gig was held at International Aeradio instead of the Southall venue.
4 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Jean left the band on 26 June and the musicians carried on as The Statesides with rhythm guitarist Dave Hovington singing lead. Former Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Ian Gillan & The Dragsters’ sax player Dave Brogden started playing with the band from 17 June but joined as a full-time member in mid-July.
The Statesmen, March 1966. Photo: Stan Thomas and Jeff Sturgeon
23 July (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 August (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 November (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Singer Pat Richards covered for Dave Hovington for the 12 November.
19 November (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 November (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 December (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 December (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 December (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1966
8 January (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 January (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 February (Friday) – The Chain Gang (Middlesex Chronicle)
26 February (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
The Statesides on tour with Wilson Pickett, March 1966. Photo: Stan Thomas and Jeff Sturgeon
23 September (Friday) – C-Jam Blues (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
30 September (Friday) – C-Jam Blues (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
7 October (Friday) – C-Jam Blues (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
16 December (Friday) – The Ray Martin Group (Harrow Observer)
17 December (Saturday) – The Flamingos (Harrow Observer)
24 December (Saturday) – Jeep Rongle (Harrow Observer)
1967
20 January (Friday) – Jeep Rongle (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
21 January (Saturday) – The Lost Legends (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
27 January (Friday) – Torque (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
28 January (Saturday) – Jeep Rongle and Kenny Bishop (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
4 February (Saturday) – Torque, The Smoke Bombs and Kenny Bishop (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
17 February (Friday) – Jeep Rongle (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
18 February (Saturday) – The Lost Legends and Ray Peterson (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
25 February (Saturday) – Gene & The Cossacks (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
28 February (Tuesday) – Jeep Rongle (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
3 March (Friday) – Torque (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
4 March (Saturday) – The Outer Limits (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
10 March (Friday) – Albert Square (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
11 March (Saturday) – The Outer Limits (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
17 March (Friday) – C-Jam Blues (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
18 March (Saturday – Jeep Rongle (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
2 April (Sunday) – The Hot Peppers (from France) (Melody Maker)
7 April (Friday) – Albert Square (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
8 April (Saturday) – Night Train (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
14 April (Friday) – Chances Are (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
13 May (Saturday) – Albert Square (Melody Maker)
20 May (Saturday) – Albert Square (Melody Maker)
14 July (Friday) – Themselves (Hounslow Post)
This group soon morphed into Virgin Sleep
15 July (Saturday) – 1984 (Hounslow Post)
Future Queen guitarist Brian May was a member of 1984
17 July (Monday) – Locomotion (Hounslow Post)
1968
6 September (Friday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
Massive thank you to Jeff Sturgeon and Dave Brogden for sharing gigs. Also huge thanks to Vic Briggs for adding some further details.
The Clay Pigeon in Eastcote was a notable rock music venue in northwest London during the 1960s.
During 1963, the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers, which became Manfred Mann, held a residency there for several months.
Throughout the 1960s, many important British bands played this venue, including several groups from the west London area, such as Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Ian Gillan was lead singer in the first half of 1965), The Birds (with Ron Wood on guitar), The Soul Messengers (featuring future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell) and Episode Six (Ian Gillan and fellow future Deep Purple cohort Roger Glover were members).
The Sweet also played here regularly during their early years with original guitarist Frank Torpey and his successor Mick Stewart.
I have started to compile a gig list below and would welcome any additions in the comments box below as well as any memories. If anyone has any memorabilia and/or photos of bands playing at this venue, I would be happy to include them with a credit.
1960
27 June (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
This west London band morphed out of The Rocking Versatiles (formed September 1957) and included long-standing member Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), who remained with the group throughout its various incarnations (and name changes) until finally splitting on 1 July 1966. The band played this venue regularly.
23 July (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 August (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 August (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 August (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 October (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 November (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 November (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 November (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1961
8 February (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 April (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1962
24 February (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Singer Jean Hayles joined The Statesmen in late April 1963 and they became “The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles” for a few months before gigging as Jean & The Statesmen until May 1964.
27 May (Sunday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Frankie Reid & The Casuals’ line up at this time featured future Animals bass player Danny McCulloch and future Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell.
25 June (Monday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
2 July (Monday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
22 August (Wednesday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Mitch Mitchell had moved on by now and Terry Mabey had taken over drums.
1963
17 January (Thursday) – The Limelights (Melody Maker)
The advert notes that this was the club’s grand opening
24 January (Thursday) – The Limelights (Melody Maker)
31 January (Thursday) – The Scepters (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 February (Thursday) – The Dauphine Street Six (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
Judging by this gig and the ones below, it looks like jazz bands took over Thursday evenings for a while.
28 February (Thursday) – The Colne Valley Six (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 March (Thursday) – Douggie Richford’s Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
14 March (Thursday) – Sonny Morris Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 March (Thursday) – Sonny Morris Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 March (Thursday) – Back O’Town Syncopaters (Melody Maker)
4 April (Thursday) – New Orleans Jazz Band (Melody Maker)
18 April (Thursday) – Charlie Gall’s Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
The group that became Manfred Mann assumed the Thursday residency, starting with this gig on 2 May.
9 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
16 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
23 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
30 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
6 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
13 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says two bands
20 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says two bands
27 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says two bands
4 July (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says The Fantastic Sounds
11 July (Thursday) – Two bands (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
Photo: Melody Maker
1 August (Thursday) – Mike Forde & The Fortunes (Harrow Observer & Gazette/Melody Maker) Drummer Lindsey Bex joined The Tridents.
8 August (Thursday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
5 September (Thursday) – Graham Bond All-Stars (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 September (Friday) – Rikki Rand & The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
12 September (Thursday) – The Graham Bond All Stars (Melody Maker/Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 November (Thursday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
1964
3 February (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
5 February (Wednesday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary) Jeff Beck didn’t join The Tridents until early September.
6 February (Thursday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
13 February (Thursday) – The Tridents (Lindsey Bex’s diary)
17 February (Monday) – The Sensational Soundsmen (Uxbridge Post)
The advert notes that the band plays every Monday so assuming they also performed on 24 February and beyond
20 February (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
By this point the band comprised Jean Hayles (lead vocals), Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bill Stemp (keyboards/sax), Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar), Mick Bloomfield (bass) and Ian Walker (drums)
22 February (Saturday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
The Limelights morphed into The Legends (see below)
24 February (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
1 March (Sunday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
2 March (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
8 March (Sunday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
9 March (Monday) – The Tridents with The Soundsmen (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary/Harrow Weekly Post)
14 March (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diaryand Lindsey Bex’s diary)
15 March (Sunday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
16 March (Monday) – The Tridents with The Soundsmen (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary/Harrow Weekly Post)
21 March (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
30 March (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post) Easter Monday
2 April (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 April (Wednesday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
25 April (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
30 April (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 May (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
14 May (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
After this gig, they became Jean & The Statesides.
16 May (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
18 May (Monday) – The Soundsmen, The Downbeat Combo and Mystine (Harrow Weekly Post)
28 May (Thursday) – The Soul Messengers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell played with The Soul Messengers during 1964 before joining The Riot Squad.
5 June (Friday) – The Soundsmen and Mystine (Harrow Weekly Post)
11 June (Thursday) – The Soul Messengers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
19 June (Friday) – The Soundsmen, The Preachers and The Mystic (Uxbridge Post) Harrow Weekly Post says Mystine rather than The Mystic
25 June (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 July (Friday) – Lee Paris & The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
3 August (Monday) – Lee Paris & The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
6 August (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 August (Tuesday) – The Soul Messengers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
17 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners and The Peeple (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 October (Thursday) – The Preachers and Senate Four (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
15 October (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners with The Paul Taylor Group (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 October (Thursday) – The RBQ and Kenny & The Shanes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 October (Thursday) – The Light and The Beethovens (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1965
7 January (Thursday) – The Vibratons (Melody Maker)
14 January (Thursday) – The Modern Blues Six (Melody Maker)
21 January (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary and Melody Maker)
Future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan joined this west London band in early November 1964 and remained band until late April.
28 January (Thursday) – Mystic and The Colorados (Melody Maker)
4 February (Thursday) – The Fenmen (Melody Maker)
11 February (Thursday) – The Wackers (Melody Maker)
18 February (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
25 February (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
4 March (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
11 March (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens (Melody Maker)
18 March (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker) Harrow Observer & Gazette says The Matadors
25 March (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens (Melody Maker)
1 April (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
8 April (Thursday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)
15 April (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
29 April (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker) Ian Gillan had left Wainwright’s Gentlemen after a gig on 26 April and joined Episode Six.
13 May (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
27 May (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
2 June (Wednesday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
By now, future Sweet drummer Mick Tucker had joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen.
3 June (Thursday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Melody Maker)
10 June (Thursday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
17 June (Thursday) – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (Melody Maker)
24 June (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
8 July (Thursday) – Felders Orioles (Melody Maker)
Drummer John Halsey went on to Timebox in August 1967.
22 July (Thursday) – The Turnkeys (Melody Maker)
29 July (Thursday) – The Flamingos (Melody Maker) Harrow Observer & Gazette has The Blue Ravens
12 August (Thursday) – The Reasons (Melody Maker)
19 August (Thursday) – The Sultans (Melody Maker)
26 August (Thursday) – The Flamingos (Melody Maker)
2 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners (Harrow Observer & Gazette) Future Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood was with The Bo Street Runners at this point.
9 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)
16 September (Thursday) – The Modern Blues Six (Melody Maker) Harrow Observer & Gazette has The Alan Price Set but this may relate to next week
22 September (Wednesday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
By this point, future Sweet singer Brian Connolly had joined the band. Sax player Dave Brogden was working with The Statesides by this point but helped out with this gig.
23 September (Thursday) – The Alan Price Set (Melody Maker)
30 September (Thursday) – The Olympics (Melody Maker)
7 October (Thursday) – Episode Six (Melody Maker)
Future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan joined Episode Six in May 1965 after leaving Wainwright’s Gentlemen in late April.
14 October (Thursday) – The MI4 (Melody Maker)
This band became The Maze and featured original Deep Purple singer Rod Evans and drummer Ian Paice.
28 November (Sunday) – The Legends (Hayes Gazette)
12 December (Sunday) – The Legends (Hayes Gazette)
1966
Missing all of 1966 apart from this lone gig, so would welcome any additions to this year.
28 January (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
By this point the band comprised Jean Hayles (lead vocals), Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bill Stemp (keyboards/sax), Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar), Dave Brogden (sax), Mick Bloomfield (bass) and Ian Walker (drums).
1967
8 February (Wednesday) – The Beachcombers (Ealing Weekly Post)
15 April (Saturday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
16 April (Sunday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
10 June (Saturday) – Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)
The Army, mid-February 1968 at The Grange Club in Hayes, left to right: Richard Herring, Steve Priest, Alan Bennett, Anita (surname? – our go-go dancer), Richard Bennett, George Russell, Ron Lewingdon, John Barter and Dennis White. Photo: Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett – lead vocals
Tony Tacon – lead guitar
Ian Orton – keyboards
John Barter – tenor sax
George Russell – tenor sax
Ron Lewingdon – trumpet
Steve Priest – bass/vocals
Alan Bennett – drums
West London R&B/soul connoisseurs The Army have the distinction of being the group that spawned future Sweet bass player/singer Steve Priest.
The Army’s roots can be traced as far back as 1962 when cousins Richard Bennett (lead vocals) and Alan Bennett (drums) decided to form their first band, The Satellites in Hayes, west London.
The Satellites in Hillingdon Mirror, 16 November 1965
Joined by Dave Harris (bass) and siblings Ian Orton (lead guitar) and Mick Orton (rhythm guitar), The Satellites had an early brush with fame when they appeared on the set of the James Bond movie Goldfinger in 1964.
The Army was formed from this band, The Satellites, formed in 1960. Left to right: Richard Bennett, Dave Harris, Alan Bennett, Ian Orton and Mick Orton. This photo was taken at the opening scene of Goldfinger, The James Bond movie with Sean Connery. Photo: Richard Bennett
Around mid-July 1966, however, The Satellites underwent a significant reshuffle, starting with the addition of lead guitarist Tony Tacon, whose main claim to fame is that he had been a member of local rivals, The Javelins with future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan during 1962-1964.
Gillan left to join Wainwright’s Gentlemen in November 1964 (Ed: future Sweet drummer Mick Tucker joined during late 1965) and Tacon joined Ealing band, Four Jacks and a Joker before hooking up with West Drayton outfit, The Ways & Means for a few months.
“I got a knock on my door from Clem [Clemson] who had been a part-time manager of The Javelins,” remembers Tacon. “He said that The Satellites were looking for a new lead guitarist if I was interested. I went down to Uxbridge for an audition and joined.”
With Tacon’s arrival, Ian Orton moved on to keyboards. At the same time Mick Orton dropped out. The following month, the band decided to remodel itself on Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers by bringing in some horn players.
For the proposed horn section, Tacon recommended his friend, sax player John Barter, who had played alongside the guitarist in Four Jacks and a Joker. Barter in turn introduced his friend, fellow sax player George Russell, a former member of Twickenham-based R&B outfit, Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
Not long after Dave Harris departed and future Sweet bass player Steve Priest took his place.
“Steve Priest joined as our new bass player,” continues Tacon. “I remember us going around to see him at his parents’ house in Hayes. I was familiar with him from his Countdowns days but someone else in the band had made contact with him.”
According to Steve Priest’s book Are you Ready, Steve? it was Richard and Alan Bennett who approached him to join. Priest would later recruit future Army members, guitarist Richard Herring and organist Dennis White from his former group The Countdowns.
Tacon remembers one of his first gigs with the group (still billed as The Satellites) was in south Wales.
“I remember playing Afan Lido (Port Talbot) probably in their gym. It was early on after I joined The Satellites. Straight down the M4 and back the same day. Beautiful sunny day (so not winter) and I remember us relaxing on the nearby beach until the gig started. I reckon it was a regular dance venue as girls told us that they came down each week.” (Ed. The Port Talbot Guardian lists this as 23 July 1966 with Something Else in support)
Photo: Tony Tacon
Renamed The Army, in view of the increased number of personnel in the band, Richard Bennett, who worked as a sign writer, painted the new moniker, surrounded by instruments, on the sextet’s new purchase, an old 30cwt van.
“The van was so big that we used to have to take it in turns to have it for a week and park it outside our homes,” says Tacon.
From the outset, The Army’s repertoire was entirely comprised of cover material, mixing popular US R&B/soul numbers like Lee Dorsey’s “Ride Your Pony”, The Four Tops’ “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”, Larry Williams’s “Slow Down” and Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper’s “In the Midnight Hour” (which Steve Priest sang) with British classics, such as Zoot Money’s “Big Time Operator”.
At first, the revamped and renamed outfit found gigs at its local haunt – the Grange Club in Hayes. Interestingly, they were also invited to perform at several garden parties for the Tory party.
“I was impressed by the sort of gigs that we did,” recalls Tacon. “The band was well in with the Young Conservative Association, how I don’t know, and played at many of the functions in London and the Home Counties.”
Tacon remembers the band playing at the Bell House Hotel in Gerrards Cross, a venue in Harpenden with a Liverpool band that might have been The Undertakers and also at an RAF base at Dawes Hill near High Wycombe.
During this time, the guitarist also remembers the band landing a gig at the Queen’s Building in the centre of London (Heathrow) Airport and sharing the dressing room with Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen.
In late October, The Army played at a Halloween Party at a hotel opposite the airport, which was put on by a film producer.
Photo: Tony Tacon
More significant, the sextet started performing on London’s busy club scene, including shows at the Starlite Ballroom in Greenford and the 100 Club (Ed: this might have been Tiles) on Oxford Street.
“One night we played a dance hall in the Amersham area… then went straight off to the centre of London where we played [at Tiles] in the early hours of the morning. The Birds may have been on before us,” recalls Tacon.
“I remember that Steve [Priest] had some friends with him at that gig and one of them was robbed on the dance floor. My fiancée (now my wife) saw it happen and says that the gang turned Steve’s friend upside down to empty his pockets.”
Priest’s book doesn’t mention this incident but does note that the venue the group played after the Amersham area gig was Tiles on Oxford Street. Interestingly, The Army did play the Legion Hall in Amersham on 25 February 1967 and later that evening appeared at Tiles on Oxford Street (see selected gig list below).
As the band’s popularity grew, The Army ventured further afield, including shows in Cardiff (3 February 1967), Dunstable, Birmingham and Nottingham among others.
Cardiff gig, 3 February 1967
Tacon remembers the sextet playing a converted warehouse in Birmingham and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers were in the dressing room when they arrived [Ed: this was Midnight City on 19 November 1966, although the group is not advertised in Birmingham Evening Mail].
“I remember John Mayall sitting there smoking a spliff. The window at the end of the room looked out on to a large intersection and bang opposite was Digbeth police station,” continues the guitarist.
“We left our gear and all went off to the Bullring for something to eat, missing the Bluesbreakers’ set. I have often wondered if Eric Clapton was in the room that night, but after comparing notes with Steve Priest; he assures me that it was the first gig [sic] for Peter Green, who he saw frantically practising in readiness having just taken over from Clapton.”
Tacon adds that The Army played at the Dungeon Club in Nottingham the next evening, a venue that he recalls playing at least twice during his time with the band. [Ed: this would have been 20 November 1966. Again, the local paper, The Nottingham Evening Post does not list them, but rather The Amboy Dukes]
Another notable gig took place on Christmas Eve when The Army opened for their idols, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers at Burton’s in Uxbridge.
“I must have left in my own van earlier than the others after the gig because the next morning (Christmas Day), two of the band, probably Richard and Alan turned up with my share of the money,” recalls the guitarist.
“They were good lads in that band. I went all over the place with them and do not remember any upsets at all.”
The Army, Dungeon, Nottingham, 5 March 1967
During January 1967, Tacon introduced trumpet player Ron Lewingdon and The Army became a seven-piece act.
“He approached me about joining when he saw me driving the band’s van one day in the company car park,” explains the guitarist. “I was working in the tool room at the same company at the time. I put it to the others and he was in.”
With Lewingdon on-board, The Army played at the Adelphi Ballroom in Slough (18 March 1967) and Tacon’s old mate from The Javelins, Ian Gillan turned up and ended up taking photos of the group performing from the side of the stage.
“Ian came with me in my car to see the band for the first time,” continues the guitarist. “I had been going to see him in Episode Six, so he repaid the compliment. He was best man at my wedding later that year.”
At The Adelphi Ballroom in Slough, above the cinema. Left to right: Steve Priest, Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett on lead vocals, Ron Lewingdon and George Russell. Photo: Richard Bennett
On this particular night Richard Bennett’s PA played up and the singer remembers borrowing one from Ian Gillan. Tacon adds that the future Deep Purple singer also took the photo.
However, not long after, Tony Tacon handed his notice. The guitarist was indeed engaged and got married soon after; it was time to hang up his rock ‘n’ roll boots. In fact, Tacon didn’t play in a band again until The Javelins reformed in the early 1990s to record a CD. He currently plays with Lincoln band, Something Else.
The guitarist remembers that his last gig with The Army took place at the California Ballroom in Dunstable on 25 March 1967.
“There were three bands on that night,” he says looking back. “The Troggs were top of the bill and we shared the dressing room with them. I remember being impressed that they arrived in an Austin Princess and brought a portable black and white TV with them that was set up in the dressing room.”
The Army at the Adelphi Ballroom, 18 March 1967. Photo: Tony Tacon
With former Countdowns guitarist Richard Herring taking over on lead guitar and ex-Countdown Dennis White subsequently replacing Ian Orton on electric organ, The Army cut two tracks in late 1967 that were shelved until 2014 when this author helped secure the release of the band’s cover of the Joe Tex hit, “Sugar” on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod Volume 5. The band’s cover of the Sam & Dave hit “You Don’t Know Like I Know” remains unreleased.
On 14 October, The Army returned to the California Ballroom to support Georgie Fame. Two months later, they played two shows at Burton’s in Uxbridge, the latter on New Year’s Eve, opening for Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.
Sometime around this period, the group turned up at Chelsea Barracks to audition for Opportunity Knocks.
The Army continued to gig during early 1968, playing venues like Walton Hop. However, behind the scenes, Steve Priest began rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka Sweet) on the side.
“I was a fan of smaller bands like Cream,” says Priest on his decision to explore new avenues. “The Army and Wainwright’s Gentlemen played at Ealing Town Hall on the same night. Mick [Tucker] was fired that night and Brian [Connolly] resigned.”
Left to right: Ron Lewingdon, George Russell, John Barter, Richard Bennett and Steve Priest. Opening for Marmalade (circa late 1967/early 1968). Photo: George Russell
Not long after playing a show at the Grange Club in Hayes in mid-February (see date stamped top picture), Priest announced his decision to leave The Army, playing his debut gig with The Sweetshop (subsequently shortened to The Sweet) on 9 March at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion.
Taking on a new bass player called Chris from Ealing, The Army continued to gig, including a clutch of shows at the New Pink Flamingo in Soho, Cooks Ferry Inn in Edmonton, north London and also opened for The Easybeats at St Albans City Hall.
By this point, Richard Herring had also departed and former Casuals’ lead guitarist Geoff Foster had joined. Not long after Dennis White left to join Merlin Q.
The group continued to pick up gigs, playing venues like Samanthas in New Burlington Street in London
Then, around September 1968, Pete Burt took over the drum stool from Alan Bennett. Burt had worked with George Russell in Jeff Curtis & The Flames during 1965 and had stuck with the group when it became The Kool. Bennett’s departure prompted Ron Lewingdon to also drop out.
Alan Bennett and Ron Lewingdon stuck together. Reunited with former member, the late Ian Orton on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and siblings Ray Spiteri (lead guitar) and Bob Spiteri (bass), they formed The Occasions and landed a prestigious gig at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane the early 1970s.
The remaining members continued into early 1969 before splintering. Pete Burt briefly gigged with Bob Brittain and then formed Hogsnort Rupert, the house band at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote.
Geoff Foster joined soul band, The Orange Rainbow (John Barter and George Russell both guested). Russell (and later Richard Bennett) emigrated to Australia but Russell subsequently returned to the UK.
Notable gigs:
3 September 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Simon Dupree Sound (billed as The Satellites)
9 September 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (billed as The Satellites)
27 October 1966 – Royal Ballrooms, Boscombe, Dorset (billed as The Satellites)
19 November 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, Birmingham with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced either Wynder K Frog or The Times who were also advertised)
20 November 1966 – The Dungeon, Nottingham (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced The Amboy Dukes who were advertised in Nottingham Evening Post)
24 November 1966 – Stereo Club, Wycombe, Bucks (billed as The Satellites)
25 November 1966 – Wy-Key Club, Burnham Lane, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Satellites)
26 November 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Blackout (billed as The Satellites)
10 December 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Riot Squad (Tony Tacon confirmed)
24 December 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
Thanks to David Else for providing the scan
4 February 1967 – Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire (replaced The All Night Workers)
11 February 1967 – Kookoo-Byrd Discotheque, Cardiff, Wales
25 February 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
25 February 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gamblers and The Essex Five
5 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham
18 March 1967 – At the Union, Manchester with St Louis Union and Sound Venture (Tony Tacon doesn’t recall this gig at all, even though it was advertised)
18 March 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
25 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Troggs
1 April 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
23 April – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 April 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
29 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Lemon Line and The Penny Blacks
11 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Jokers and The Afex
28 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
2 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Toys
15 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
16 July 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gass and The Fraternity
19 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Coloured Raisins and Tiles Big Band
20 August 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Maze and The Art Movement
23 August 1967 – Drayton Hall, West Drayton, west London
23 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, west London
3 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
14 October 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame & Four Point Five
24 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
25 November 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
26 November 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set
27 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
30 November 1967 – RAF Northwood, Hertfordshire
1 December 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
2 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
3 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Temptations (this was The Fantastics not the Motown group)
31 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (this requires confirmation)
5 January 1968 – The Hub, Marlow, Bucks
13 January 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
20 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Radio Disc Show with Stuart Henry
According to Frank Torpey’s diary, Steve Priest was rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka The Sweet) by 5 February and would have left a few weeks later.
Frank Torpey’s final gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen was 20 January and Mick Tucker was fired shortly afterwards so the Ealing Town Hall gig where Wainwright’s Gentlemen and The Army both appeared was probably in the last week of January 1968.
10 February 1968 – The Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
Mid (13?) February 1968 – The Grange, Hayes, west London (picture has Steve Priest in it, so one of his final gigs with the band)
3 March 1968 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire (Priest may have played this but very unlikely)
10 May 1968 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Beds with Spectrum
25 May 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Alfred The Great
26 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London
Photo credit: Geoff Foster
30 May 1968 – St Andrew’s Hall, Uxbridge, northwest London
2 June 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London with The All-Nite Workers (billed as Army Soul Show)
14 June 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Easybeats and The Hello
6 July 1968 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent
Photo credit: Geoff Foster
10 August 1968 – Styx Discotheque, Luton, Bedfordshire
23 September 1968 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with Kingsize Keen and His Rockin’ Machine
I would like to thank Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett, Alan Bennett, Ron Lewingdon, Steve Priest, John Kerrison, Geoff Foster, George Russell, John Barter and Keith Kendall for providing some information about this band. Thanks to Richard Bennett, George Russell and Tony Tacon for providing images.
Gigs were sourced from various national newspapers and Melody Maker (some sources are noted in the comments below).
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
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
