Tag Archives: Geoff Krivit

Julian Covey & The Machine

Image may be subject to copyright

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

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

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

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

Photo: Melody Maker

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

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

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

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

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

Julian Covey – drums/vocals

Jim Cregan – lead guitar

Dave Levy – piano

Cliff Barton – bass

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Saxophone player

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

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

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

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

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

John McVie – bass

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

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Geoff Krivit – lead guitar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: Melody Maker, early 1966

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

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

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

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

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Mike Ward – guitar

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

Steve Rance – bass

Andrew Steele – drums

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

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

I found a few gigs during this period:

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

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

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

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

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

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

I found a few gigs during this period: 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Photo: Mirabelle, 27 August 1966 issue

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

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Dave Mason – lead guitar

Keith Webb – drums

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

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

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

Photo: Melody Maker. 10 September 1966

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

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

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

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

Around November 1966, Covey reshuffled the pack again to:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence (aka Johnny Holiday) – bass

Keith Webb – drums

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

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

A few notable gigs from this period include:

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence – bass

Pete Solley – Hammond organ

Keith Webb – drums

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

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

Image may be subject to copyright

The new formation gigged incessantly and shows included the following:

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Freddie Mack’s bands: December 1965-April 1967

Freddy front copy
Freddy Mack’s album recorded in 1967 (not 1966). Thanks to Dave Tedstone for image

Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.

Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians.

Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.

The first line-up of this band must have been formed in October 1965 because an advert in Melody Maker from October 1968 says that the group was due to play at the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street on 13 October 1968 to mark the band’s third anniversary.

Sometime in November, Freddie Mack was briefly paired with The Phil Wainman Band and female singer Cleo Sylvester (aka Sylvestre). The group’s line up at the time comprised lead guitarist Tony Sinclair; bass player Ron Thomas; organist Mick Fletcher; sax players Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney; and drummer Phil Wainman.

According to Wainman, Mack was resident DJ at Dolly’s Club in Soho and they shared a brief residency there.  The group was then lined up to play a Christmas/New Year show at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington with Mack.

Mel Wayne says that Mick Fletcher was staying with him in Twickenham and the pair had problems with the trains and arrived late. Mack was going to fine them but the rest of the band rallied and said they’d leave if he did.

Unfortunately, the show proved to be the end of their relationship  and Wainman’s band went on to work with West End Promotions, backing a succession of Jamaican artists, including Millie Small, Owen Grey, Jackie Edwards and most notably Jimmy Cliff.

Around February 1966, Mack asked sax player Roger Warwick, who’d done some rehearsals with Phil Wainman’s band, to become part of a new, larger stage show that drew on musicians from two bands and subsequently became known as This ‘N’ That. The new formation retained singer Cleo Sylvester.

Mack had also asked American singer Ronald Bertram Greaves (aka Sonny Childe) to join the new stage show but Warwick doesn’t think he stuck around long.

Originally from Ealing, Warwick had attended Walpole Grammar School and was in the year below (and was friends with) John McVie. Studying sax under Don Rendell, he had previously played on The Tornados’ single “Early Bird”, produced by Joe Meek.

He then worked with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages and played a few gigs with The Lower Third (with David Bowie on sax) before backing singer Bobby Rio on a German tour in December 1965 with future Mack Sound bass player Alan Cartwright.

Back in England, Warwick joined a short-lived group based in Fulham, which also included an Irish singer called Leon, tenor sax player Nobby Clarke and a Welsh Hammond organist, who was possibly Mike Vaughn-Jones. When Warwick joined Freddie Mack, Leon, Clarke and Vaughn-Jones also came onboard. (Ed. Hammond organist Paul Abrahams says he had played with Warwick previously and was involved with the band by early June.)

The other group that Mack drew on for musicians were Screaming Lord Sutch’s latest version of The Savages, Liverpool outfit, Derry Wilkie & The Others.

Lord Sutch had been using the musicians as a backing group for several months but by April 1966 the players were keen to break away from Sutch and try something new.

The entire outfit – singer Derry Wilkie; lead guitarist Ernie Hayes; tenor sax player Phil Kenzie; baritone sax player Ashton Tootell; bass player Derek Bond; and drummer Billy Adamson accepted Mack’s offer and signed up.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

Joining forces with Warwick’s Fulham players, the new formation debuted at the Ram Jam in Brixton on 22 April 1966 under the name Freddie Mack’s This ‘N’ That.

Warwick remembers that sax player Jimmy Jewell, a former member of Kris Ryan & The Questions, played some gigs with the band during this time.

Jewell confirms that he briefly played with Mack around April 1966 together with former Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions guitarist Martin Shaw and an American singer called Richard Lanham, who’d recently lived in Milan, Italy.

Jewell and Shaw did not stay long and would take part in a German tour with The Paramounts in September 1966 backing singer Chris Andrews.

The excellent Derry Wilkie website also lists a number of other players that became part of this larger show during mid-1966: singer Jo Baker; lead guitarist Geoff Krivit; trumpet player Mark Charig; and percussionist Eddie Lincoln.

Krivit, incidentally, had briefly been a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1965 and Julian Covey & The Machine in early 1966. He would go on to play with Dr K’s Blues Band. Charig meanwhile had been a member of The Sidewinders (recently playing at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington) and later worked with Bluesology (alongside Elton John).

Billed as This ‘N’ That, the line-up recorded a lone single, “Get Down With It/I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” c/w “I Care About You” for the Strike label, which was released on 10 June 1966.

Judging by an advert printed in 11 June 1966 edition of Melody Maker, the single features singers Derry Wilkie, Sonny Childe, Cleo Sylvester and Leon plus “the explosive sound of TNT and Mack Sound”.

The Redbridge & Ilford Recorder lists the band playing at Oscar’s Grotto in Ilford, east London on 11 June 1966.

Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright

The same newspaper also lists the band, billed as The TNT Show with The Youth (born Trevor Sutherland and later future reggae artist IJahman Levi), Derek and Cleo playing at the same venue on 9 July 1966.

Most of the musicians left immediately afterwards to work as Sonny Childe & The TNT. According to Ernie Hayes, when Sonny Childe returned to the US around August 1967, the guitarist, plus organist Mike Vaughn-Jones and drummer Billy Adamson joined forces with bass player Jet Harris and singer Pete Gage for a few months. Phil Kenzie meanwhile joined Tuesday’s Children for four months.

In November 1967, Ernie Hayes, Mike Vaughn-Jones, Billy Adamson and Phil Kenzie reunited in TNT to back American singer PP Arnold with former Creation’s member Eddie Phillips on bass. Adamson later played with The Searchers while Kenzie returned to Freddie Mack’s band in spring 1968 (see entry).

In the meantime Roger Warwick helped Freddie Mack put together a new version of The Mack Sound, retaining Cleo Sylvester, The Youth and Derry Wilkie. He brought in his old friend Alan Cartwright on bass plus some new players.

The band rehearsed extensively that summer and Warwick remembers the new line up playing a day long show at Douglas House at Lancaster Gate with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Ed. Fame played here on 29 May 1966 but this would have been too early in the timeline unless Warwick meant an earlier version.)

Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright

The Redbridge & Ilford Recorder lists the band, billed as The Mac Sounds, playing at Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London with The TNT on 30 July 1966.

Youth photo. Fabulous 208, 12 November 1966 issue. Image may be subject to copyright
Photo: Fabulous 28, 12 November 1966 issue. Image may be subject to copyright

Around this time, Warwick and Cartwright were among the musicians who backed The Youth on a lone single for Polydor Records, a cover of Smokey Robinson’s “As Long As There Is Love” backed by Otis Redding’s “Your One and Only Man” at Abbey Road.

Freddie Mack live. Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck I would be grateful if anyone can identify any of the musicians shown here.

Drawing on a number of web sources, and accounts from several musicians, it looks like the new line up’s formation, which signed to Dumont Associates (as advertised in Melody Maker’s 15 October 1966 issue), comprised the following players at some point between September 1966 and January 1967:

Freddie Mack – lead vocals

Derry Wilkie – lead vocals

Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas

Kenneth Harry – lead vocals

Kookie Eaton – lead vocals

Ged Peck – lead guitar

Billy Davidson – organ 

Alan Cartwright – bass

Roger Warwick – baritone saxophone

Clarence Jackson (aka JJ Johnson) – trombone

Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone

Chris Burdett – alto saxophone (possibly joined later in 1966)

Eddie  Thornton – trumpet (joined October 1966)

B J Wilson – drums (replaced by Roger Truth in November 1966)

Clarence Jackson was a member of Otis Redding’s touring band when the singer had made his UK debut in September 1966, so it’s probably safe to assume he joined after the tour had finished.

Eddie Thornton, however, was still working with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames until October 1966, and therefore it’s possible that another trumpet player was there before.

Thanks to recollections from Ged Peck, it appears that the first keyboard player was Billy Davidson (who later worked with The Flowerpot Men among others) but he was replaced by Art Regis at some point in early 1967 (possibly start of February).

Unknown horn players, Ged Peck (guitar) and Billy Davidson (keyboards). Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck

Of the other musicians listed above, lead guitarist Ged Peck had been a member of The Favourite Sons before briefly playing with Chris Lamb & The Universals.

Ged Peck far right in the early 1960s. Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck

B J Wilson had played with The Paramounts and George Bean & The Runners. He was an old friend of Alan Cartwright’s.

BJ Wilson centre with Alan Cartwright (left). Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck

One thing is clear from tracing Freddie Mack’s bands during the 1960s, the line-ups tended to be pretty fluid and (particularly) horn players appeared to come and go on a regular basis, making pinning down definitive formations almost impossible. There were often around 15 musicians in the group at one time.

Throughout this period, musicians appear to have come and gone on a regular basis. According to Nick Simper’s excellent website, Roger Truth, who had played with the future Deep Purple bass player in Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, took over the drum stool from B J Wilson in late November 1966.

Roger Warwick left in December 1966 while the band were playing at the Upper Cut in Forest Gate, east London. Warwick moved to Turin, Italy to join a band being formed to back Lebanese singer Patrick Samson.

He remembers that when he left, singer Richard Lanham was with the band.

Roger Warwick (back left with white shirt) with The Patrick Samson Set

West Indian trumpet player Sonny Corbett joined during early 1967 as did English trumpet player Chris Dawe.

In January 1967, it’s possible The Mack Sound comprised the following (plus other unknown musicians):

Freddie Mack – lead vocals

Derry Wilkie – lead vocals

Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas

Kenneth Harry – lead vocals

Kookie Eaton – lead vocals

Ged Peck – lead guitar

Billy Davidson – organ 

Alan Cartwright – bass

Clarence Jackson – trombone

Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone

Chris Dawe – trumpet

Sonny Corbett – trumpet

Eddie  Thornton – trumpet 

Roger Truth – drums

Hammond organist Art Regis, who’d previously performed with Mel Turner & Rupert and The Red Devils, Dutch band The Defenders, The Arthur Brown Union and Ralph Denyer & The Uptown Band, remembers Derry Wilkie, Tony Morgan, Kookie Eaton, Dick Morrisey, Bernie Wehrman, Clarence Jackson and Eddie Thornton being in the band at the same time as him.

Art Regis recalls Freddie Mack coming to his flat in Portobello Road and discussing the possibility of forming “an extravagant international soul show”. The Hammond organist also remembers playing at Silver Blades Ice Rink in Streatham and a trek down to Cornwall to play an air sea rescue base in Falmouth.

More importantly, Art Regis also recalls performing with Freddie Mack at Billy Walker’s The Upper Cut in Forest Gate, which opened on 21 December 1966. According to Melody Maker, Mack’s band was the resident support band at this notable venue until early February 1967.

The New Pirates in February 1967. Mick Stewart (far left) who played with Mack in December 1965 and Nick Simper (far right) who briefly played with Mack in early 1967. Photo: John Kerrison
The New Pirates in February 1967. Mick Stewart (far left) who played with Mack in December 1965 and Nick Simper (second from right) who briefly played with Mack in early 1967. Photo: John Kerrison

Nick Simper also spent a week with the band when it was resident support act at the Upper Cut (most likely mid-January 1967) after working with Bobby Hebb’s touring band. However, Alan Cartwright was soon back and Simper formed The New Pirates the following month.

During the first few weeks of February Roger Truth dropped out briefly to reform The New Pirates with Simper but had a change of mind and returned to Freddie Mack after some early rehearsals. B J Wilson filled the drum stool in the interim.

Art Regis would reunite with Nick Simper and Ged Peck in June 1967 in Billie Davis & The Quality before working briefly with Engelbert Humperdinck. Regis confirms that he then joined Jimmy James & The Vagabonds on 27 July 1967.

The Loose Ends in 1966 with Roy Davies (far left). Photo: Alan Whitehead
The Loose Ends in 1966 with Roy Davies (far left). Photo: Alan Whitehead

Another keyboard player that is often associated with Freddie Mack during this time is future Gonzalez member Roy Davies, who’d previously been a member of Southeast London band, The Loose Ends. It looks most likely that Davies came on-board when Art Regis left (around mid-February).

In late February 1967, B J Wilson joined Sands and then Procol Harum. Roger Truth returned to the drum stool.

Ged Peck playing live. Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck

Ged Peck certainly was gone sometime in late March 1967 and joined Nick Simper in Billie Davis & The Quality that May before going on to a number of notable acts, including Warhorse (alongside Simper). His temporary replacement was former Tornados and Echoes guitarist Stuart Taylor.

Lead guitarist Dave Tedstone, who had previously been a member of The Doc Thomas Group, remembers going to Eel Pie Island to see Freddie Mack’s band and subsequently joined.  Tedstone also recalls that Stuart Taylor was on guitar at the time. Thanks to Pete Watt’s excellent research this gig can be confirmed as 4 April 1967.

Selected gigs:

Photo: Aldershot News. Image may be subject to copyright

2 September 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants. Billed as Freddie Mack Sounds and His Show

9 September 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire. Billed as The Mack Sound (ten-piece band)

10 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Eddie Cave & The Fix, The Kop, The Hideaways, The Seftons and The Rocking Vicars

Photo: Evening Sentinel. Image may be subject to copyright

16 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

22 September 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire Billed as The Mack Sound

 

1 October 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Jaguars

13 October 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire

15 October 1966 – Drill Hall, Dumfries, Scotland with The Misfits

Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright

19 October 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands. Billed as The Mac Sound

Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright

20 October 1966 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands with The Visuals Billed as Mack Sound (11-piece)

Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright

21 October 1966 – The Royal Oak, Hockley Heath, West Midlands Billed as Mack Sound (11-piece)

Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright

22 October 1966 – Bromsgrove Baths, Bromsgrove, West Midlands with The Exchequers

Photo: City Week. Image may be subject to copyright

28 October 1966 – Cavalier Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Tony G Ford & The Crescendos. Billed as Derrie Wilkie & The Mack Sound

29 October 1966 – Cavalier Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The King Bees. Billed as Derrie Wilkie & The Mack Sound

City Week, 27 October 1966. Image may be subject to copyright

5 November 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Alan Bown Set

8 November 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire  Billed as Mack Sound (ten-piece with Derrie Wilkie)

Image may be subject to copyright

26 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

27 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

 

4 December 1966 – Douglas House, Lancaster Gate, Central London (listed as 13-piece band) with Herbie Goins & The Nighttimers

5 December 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

10 December 1966 – King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent with In-Betweens and Lonnie’s Few

11 December 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel article, dated 16 December, page 13, lists 16 band members)

11 December 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield with The Orginators Creed, The Hobo Flats and The Chicago Line

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

16 December 1966 – Tofts, Folkestone, Kent

17 December 1966 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry

21 December 1966-12 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London:

Image may be subject to copyright

21 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Who

22 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Easybeats

23 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch

24 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Eric Burdon & The Animals

26 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimi Hendrix Experience (day)

26 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Pretty Things (evening)

27-29 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

30 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Spencer Davis Group

31 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (This may not have happened if gig below took place)

Photo: Dumfries and Galloway Standard. Image may be subject to copyright

31 December 1966 – Assembly Rooms, Dumfries, Scotland

 

1 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Move (This may not have happened if above gig took place)

Photo: Wigtownshire Free Press & Galloway Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright

2 January 1967 – Newton Stewart, Galloway, Scotland Second Scottish gig suggests not all Upper Cut shows in January happened

2-5 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (This may not have happened due to Scottish tour)

6 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Small Faces

7 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Bitter End Singers

8 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Mindbenders (Nick Simper’s website says Pink Floyd replaced The Mindbenders. Simper attended and saw Syd Barrett’s group perform. He filled in for Alan Cartwright for a week at this venue, possibly the following week)

9-12 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (possibly with Nick Simper

13 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Four Pennies (possibly with Nick Simper)

14 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Terry Lightfoot’s Jazzmen (possibly with Nick Simper)

15-19 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

20 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Sounds Incorporated

21 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Fourmost

22-26 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

28 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimi Hendrix Experience

29-31 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

Possible that Art Regis took over from Billy Davidson around about now. Not long after Roger Truth dropped out to reform The New Pirates with Nick Simper. B J Wilson returned to the drum kit.

1-2 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

3 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Winston’s Fumbs (now listed as 15-piece band)

4 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers, The Satin Dolls and The Avalons

5-9 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

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

11 February 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Fire Flies

12 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

It’s possible that Roy Davies took over from Art Regis around about now

13 February 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall with The Jaguars (The Sheffield Star says they also play the Esquire in Sheffield in South Yorkshire on this day which seems more likely with the Cleethorpes gig later this week)

14 February 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (this was probably cancelled in light of the northern gigs)

15 February 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes

16 February 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

18 February 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with The Children (10-piece band)

After this gig, Roger Truth returned when B J Wilson left to join Sands

22 February 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes

23 February 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands

25 February 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

 

8 March 1967 – Cromwell Club, Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with Umpteenth Time

9 March 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hants

10 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

13 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (back by demand)

17 March 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester

Photo: Lincolnshire Standard. Image may be subject to copyright

18 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Kool Combination, The Bone and The Caribbean Steel Band and Ray Bones

Photo: Leicester Mercury. Image may be subject to copyright

18 March 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Executives

19 March 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

23 March 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes

24-25 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Unit 4 Plus 2, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Roman Empire and The New Pirates

27 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Unit 4 Plus 2, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Roman Empire and The New Pirates

Ged Peck left around about now and Stuart Taylor took over lead guitar duties for a week. Possible Art Regis may have done the Cornwall gigs below

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

30 March 1967 – RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall

31 March 1967 – Penzance, Cornwall (most likely Winter Gardens Ballroom)

 

1-2 April 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Hoboes

CONTINUED HERE

I would personally like to thank the following for helping to piece this story together: Mel Wayne, Phil Wainman, Roger Warwick, Art Regis, Dave Tedstone and Nick Simper.

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW TO ADD/CORRECT INFORMATION

Live gig sources:

During my research on Freddie Mack from 1965-1969, I have found gigs from many newspapers. Here are some of the sources:

The Cornish Guardian, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Sentinel, Melody Maker, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Lincolnshire Standard, Birmingham Evening Mail, NME, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Aldershot News, Manchester Evening News & Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Stafford Newsletter and Cambridgeshire Times

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author. To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com or nick_warburton@hotmail.com

 

The Pontiac Club, Zeeta House, Upper Richmond Road, Putney

Together with St Mary’s Hall, also in Putney, the Pontiac Club was a popular venue in southwest London in the early-mid 1960s.

Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds were resident band there at one point as were The Action, formerly The Boys and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

The club was located at 200 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, near the main railway station.

I have started a gig list below and would welcome any additions as well as memories in the comments below. If you have any memorabilia, including posters for the club, I would be happy to include them with a credit.

1963

28 December 1963 (Saturday) – Manfred Mann and Mark Leeman Five (Greg Russo’s research)

1965

Initially billed as the New Pontiac Club

27 May 1965 (Thursday) – Donovan with full supporting groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

28 May 1965 (Friday) – Alex Harvey Soul Band with support (Melody Maker/Kingston & Malden Borough News)

29 May 1965 (Saturday) – The Peddlers with support (Melody Maker/Kingston & Malden Borough News)

30 May 1965 (Sunday) – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men with support (Melody Maker/Kingston & Malden Borough News)

Photo: Melody Maker

2 June 1965 (Wednesday) – Alexis Korner with support (Melody Maker/Kingston & Malden Borough News)

4 June 1965 (Friday) – The Downliners Sect and The Boston Dexters (Melody Maker)

5 June 1965 (Saturday) – The Beat Merchants, The Billy Woods Combo and The Boston Dexters (Melody Maker)

6 June 1965 (Sunday) – Mike Berry & The Outsiders with support (Melody Maker)

9 June 1965 (Wednesday) – The Muleskinners with support (Melody Maker)

Future Small Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan played with The Muleskinners.

11 June 1965 (Friday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (New Musical Express)

Photo: Melody Maker

16 June 1965 (Wednesday) – The Boston Dexters and The Blues Messengers (Melody Maker)

18 June 1965 (Friday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

19 June 1965 (Saturday) – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band (Melody Maker)

20 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Hollies and Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

25 June 1965 (Friday) – The Boston Dexters and Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men (Melody Maker)

26 June 1965 (Saturday) – The Mark Leeman Five (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

27 June 1965 (Sunday) – Phil Ryan & The Crescents (New Musical Express/Melody Maker) Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays may also have been on the bill for this date

30 June 1965 (Wednesday) – The Artwoods and The Boston Dexters (Melody Maker/New Musical Express)

 

2 July 1965 (Friday) – The Mark Leeman Five and Platform 6 (Melody Maker/New Musical Express)

3 July 1965 (Saturday) – The Comanches and The Primitives (Melody Maker)

4 July 1965 (Sunday) – Gerry L Thompson & The Sidewinders (Melody Maker)

7 July 1965 (Wednesday) – The Boston Dexters (New Musical Express)

Photo: Melody Maker

9 July 1965 (Friday) – The Beat Merchants and The Comanches (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

10 July 1965 (Saturday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers and Gerry L Thompson & The Sidewinders (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

11 July 1965 (Sunday) – The Boston Dexters and The Fetish Crowd (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

14 July 1965 (Wednesday) – Manfred Mann and The Boston Dexters (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

16 July 1965 (Friday) – The Checkmates and The Thoughts (New Musical Express)

17 July 1965 (Saturday) – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and Gerry L Thompson & The Sidewinders (New Musical Express)

18 July 1965 (Sunday) – The Boston Dexters (New Musical Express)

Photo: Melody Maker

21 July 1965 (Wednesday) – The Classmates and Group Survival (Melody Maker)

23 July 1965 (Friday) – Gerry L Thompson & The Sidewinders and The Five Proud Walkers (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

24 July 1965 (Saturday) – The Action and Peter Fenton & The Tasty Mob (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

The Action were recently billed as The Boys.

25 July 1965 (Sunday) – The Thoughts (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

28 July 1965 (Wednesday) – The Who and surf band in support (New Musical Express/Melody Maker) (see comments section below) This could have been The Summer Set

30 July 1965 (Friday) – Gerry L Thompson & The Sidewinders and The RBQ (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

31 July 1965 (Saturday) – John Lee’s Groundhogs (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

 

1 August (Sunday) – The Boston Dexters (New Musical Express)

Photo: Melody Maker

4 August 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers started a regular (two month) Wednesday night residency on this date.

6 August 1965 (Friday) – Tony Knight’s Chessmen and The Fetish Crowd (Melody Maker/New Musical Express)

7 August 1965 (Saturday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers and Soul Survival (Melody Maker/New Musical Express)

Later this same evening The Byrds played at the Pontiac Club. According to author Don Hughes, The Dae-b-Four were the support band.

8 August (Sunday) – The Boston Dexters (Melody Maker)

11 August 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

13 August 1965 (Friday) – Guy Hamilton & The Senators (Melody Maker)

14 August 1965 (Saturday) – The Primitives and The Boston Dexters (Melody Maker)

15 August 1965 (Sunday) – The Boston Dexters (Melody Maker)

18 August 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

20 August 1965 (Friday) – The Fenmen (New Musical Express)

21 August 1965 (Saturday) – The Action and Sonny Childe & The Cool School (New Musical Express)

22 August 1965 (Sunday) – The Truth (New Musical Express)

25 August 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (New Musical Express)

According to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book Strange Brew, this was the last gig by The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton who left and was replaced by a succession of fill-in guitarists before returning in November.

Photo: Melody Maker

27 August 1965 (Friday) – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

28 August 1965 (Saturday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

29 August 1965 (Sunday) – The Ingoes (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

The Ingoes morphed into Blossom Toes.

 

1 September 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (New Musical Express/Melody Maker)

According to Christopher Hjort’s book, John Weider, who has previously played with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates among others, covered for Eric Clapton in The Bluesbreakers for this gig.

3 September 1965 (Friday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (New Musical Express)

4 September 1965 (Saturday) – The VIPs (New Musical Express)

The VIPs band morphed into Spooky Tooth.

5 September 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

The Action had a regular Sunday residency at this venue for a while. Some sources also note that The Objects played in support on this date.

8 September 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

According to Christopher Hjort’s book, John Slaughter from Chris Barber’s band covered for Eric Clapton in The Bluesbreakers for this gig.

10 September 1965 (Friday) – The Crowd (Melody Maker)

11 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (Melody Maker)

12 September 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

15 September 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

According to Christopher Hjort’s book, former Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions guitarist Geoff Krivit covered for Eric Clapton in The Bluesbreakers for this gig.

Photo: Melody Maker

18 September 1965 (Saturday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (Melody Maker)

19 September 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

22 September 1965 (Wednesday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

According to Christopher Hjort’s book, former Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions guitarist Geoff Krivit covered for Eric Clapton in The Bluesbreakers for this gig.

This is the band’s final show at the Pontiac and Hjort notes that Peter Green approached Mayall at this venue to ask if he could take over from Krivit as permanent guitarist.

Photo: Melody Maker

24 September 1965 (Friday) – Tony Colton’s Big Boss Band (Melody Maker)

25 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Beat Merchants (Melody Maker)

26 September 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

 

1 October 1965 (Friday) – The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)

2 October 1965 (Saturday) – The VIPs (Melody Maker)

3 October 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

9 October 1965 (Saturday) – Five Proud Walkers (Info from John Treais)

10 October 1965 (Sunday) – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

15 October 1965 (Friday) – Them (Melody Maker)

Them was Van Morrison’s Belfast band. Around this time, former members began gigged in a rival Them.

16 October 1965 (Saturday) – The Arthur Brown Union (Info from John Treais)

17 October 1965 (Sunday) – Gary Farr & T-Bones (Melody Maker)

20 October 1965 (Wednesday) – T-Bone Walker and The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

22 October 1965 (Friday) – Dean Ford & The Gaylords (Melody Maker)

This band morphed into Marmalade.

23 October 1965 (Saturday) – The Vectors (Melody Maker)

24 October 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

30 October 1964 (Saturday) – Victor Brox (Info from John Treais)

31 October 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

6 November 1965 (Saturday) – J C & The Machine (aka Julian Covey) (Melody Maker)

After John McVie was sacked from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers on 3 October, he found work with Julian Covey’s band until he returned to Mayall in early January 1966.

7 November 1965 (Sunday) – The Action (Melody Maker)

9 November 1965 (Tuesday) – Wilson Pickett (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

17 December 1965 (Friday) – The Carnaby (Melody Maker)

18 December 1965 (Saturday) – The High Society (Melody Maker)

This group had recently been The Arthur Brown Union but when Arthur left earlier this month, singer Dave Terry (aka Elmer Gantry) took over. They soon became The Union.

19 December 1965 (Sunday) – The Crowd with Peter Fenton (Melody Maker)

24 December 1965 (Friday) – The Army (Melody Maker)

Emerging out of Hampton R&B band, The Others, this group soon changed name to Sands.

26 December 1965 (Sunday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (Melody Maker)

27 December 1965 (Monday) – The Mickey Finn (Melody Maker)

1966

17 March 1966 (Thursday) – The Loose Ends and support (Melody Maker)

19 March 1966 (Saturday) – The Checkers and support (Melody Maker)

20 March 1966 (Sunday) – The In Crowd (Melody Maker)

The In Crowd morphed into Tomorrow in early 1967.

23 March 1966 (Wednesday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)

24 March 1966 (Thursday) – The Mickey Finns (Melody Maker)

26 March 1966 (Saturday) – The Basic 5 (Melody Maker)

27 March 1966 (Sunday) – The Shevells (Melody Maker)

The Carl Douglas Set at the Pontiac Club, Putney, May 1966

5 May 1966 (Thursday) – The Carl Douglas Set (poster from Ken Baxter)

7 May 1966 (Saturday) – Dracken Lewis 5 (most likely Deakin Lewis) and Front Line (poster from Ken Baxter)

 

28 May 1966 (Saturday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Melody Maker)

 

4 June 1966 (Saturday) – The Drag Set (Melody Maker)

18 June 1966 (Saturday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Melody Maker)

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