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Gethsemane

Photo: Bryan Stevens/Mick Ketley. The Penny Peeps (not long before becoming Gethsemane). Clockwise from bottom left: Martin Barre, Denny Alexander, Malcolm Tomlinson (centre), Bryan Stevens and Mick Ketley

Blues-rock aggregation Gethsemane was the final version of a group that guitarist Martin Barre (b. 17 November 1946, King’s Heath, Birmingham) had first joined in July 1966 before landing the “gig of his dreams” with Jethro Tull.

Bass player and leader Bryan Stevens (b. 13 November 1941, Lha Datu, North Borneo) and keyboard player/singer Mick Ketley (b. 1 October 1947, Balham, London) were there from the outset, having been integral members of Beau Brummell & The Noblemen from late 1964 to June 1966.

Photo: Bryan Stevens/Mick Ketley. The Noblemen, early 1966. Mick Ketley (far right) and Bryan Stevens (front centre)

Returning to England after touring Europe, Stevens and Ketley had decided to put together a new version of The Noblemen, adding new musicians, including drummer Malcolm Tomlinson (b. 16 June 1946, Isleworth, Middlesex; d. 2 April 2016) from west London and Martin Barre.

All four musicians survived the group’s evolution from Mod/soul outfit Motivation through to psychedelic pop band The Penny Peep Show/Penny Peeps.

Photo: Bryan Stevens/Mick Ketley. Motivation, early 1967. Left to right: Chris Rodger, Martin Barre, Mick Ketley, Jimmy Marsh, Malcolm Tomlinson and Bryan Stevens

However, despite garnering plenty of work on the club scene in the first half of 1968, the emerging blues explosion headed up by Fleetwood Mac was starting to make psychedelic rock bands redundant.

That July, Canadian group The Band’s Music from Big Pink had been given a UK release and had turned musicians’ heads, The Penny Peeps included.

After playing at Nottingham’s Beachcomber Club on Saturday, 13 July; Leicester Rowing Club, two Saturdays later; and the Swan in Yardley, the West Midlands on Saturday, 3 August, the musicians realised another change in style was required.

The decision was influenced in part by the audience’s response at one particular gig (possibly the Walgrave in Coventry on Sunday, 4 August) where the group’s performance was poorly received.

In the interval, the band’s current singer Denny Alexander suggested that the band play some blues numbers in the second set and with Mike Ketley and Malcolm Tomlinson also helping out with lead vocals, the fresh approach went down a storm.

Taking on a new name, In the Garden of Gethsemane, which was soon shortened to Gethsemane, the group began to plough a more blues-based direction.

The decision to adopt a new style may also have been prompted by the Eighth National Jazz and Blues Festival held at Kempton Park racecourse in Sunbury-on-Thames on Sunday, 11 August.

Malcolm Tomlinson had attended and was blown away by Jethro Tull and its enigmatic front-man Ian Anderson whose mastery of the flute made an impression on the drummer. Both he and Martin Barre had recently started to play flute and Tomlinson came back raving about the group to Barre, urging the guitarist to check out Anderson’s inspirational group.

Around this time, however, Denny Alexander dropped out to pursue a non-musical career.

Reduced to a quartet, the new musical direction that Gethsemane took gave the band an opportunity to be more creative and to stretch out during live performances. One of the “features” of the band’s stage show during this period was a flute duet featuring Barre and Tomlinson.

Mike Ketley believes the genesis of Gethsemane began when the musicians played an (unadvertised) all-nighter at the Gunnell brothers’ Flamingo in Wardour Street around mid-to-late August.

“What I remember is Malc Tomlinson on drums, Bryan on bass, Martin Barre on guitar and me on Hammond. We were definitely a four piece there and by then Malc had decided to take up the flute. Martin by this time was becoming a much better flute player than he was a sax player.

“One of our set numbers was ‘Work Song’ made famous by Cannonball Adderley plus others. After we had played the main theme twice through with some ad lib from me and Martin, Malc said play some percussion rhythm on the keys and he came out from behind the drums flute in hand and between him and Martin, who by then had realised this was something completely spontaneous, we played some pretty bizarre stuff, completely unrehearsed with two flutes talking to each other, while Bryan did his own thing on bass in line with me just using the percussion tabs and hitting the keys to make a tempo. Having lost Denny Alexander it was almost like the start of a new direction for us.”

One of the first advertised gigs with the new name (albeit it as Gethsemane Soul Band) was at the Royal Lido Ballroom in Prestatyn, north Wales on Saturday, 24 August.

The next day, the group played the first of several shows at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, west London. The popular island hangout had closed briefly in September 1967 and only reopened on 31 July. Ketley distinctly recalls opening for The Nice at the venue (who were billed to play there on Wednesday, 28 August).

One of the most significant dates during this period was Saturday, 31 August when Gethsemane (misspelt as Gethsemanie) opened the Van Dike Club in Plymouth, Devon, playing first before headliner Jethro Tull. It was the first opportunity that Martin Barre had to check out his future employers.

Interestingly, an advertised gig at the Cobweb at St Leonards in East Sussex on Saturday, 7 September (see above) reveals that the group was still occasionally billed as The Penny Peeps, which raises the question of whether Denny Alexander was still a member at this point. (Ed: Ketley says that Alexander had definitely left the band once they had redefined the music they wanted to play and chosen the name Gethsemane.)

Like the previous incarnations, Gethsemane had a busy diary, which increasingly took in blues clubs and the burgeoning university circuit.

 

On Sunday, 8 September, the quartet performed at the Aurora Hotel in Gillingham, Kent. That Saturday (14 September), the group (billed as Geth Semane) played one of its most prestigious shows – the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm on a bill that also featured The Scaffold, David Bowie, Junior’s Eyes and The Edgar Broughton Band.

DJ John Peel apparently was a huge fan and recorded the band’s set, which he played the following week on his radio show.

On Saturday, 28 September, Gethsemane played at the Stage Club in Oxford.

The following Saturday (5 October), the group landed an important gig, opening for blues trailblazers Fleetwood Mac at the Links in Borehamwood, Herts.

Without Alexander to front the group, the vocals were shared between Malcolm Tomlinson and Mike Ketley.

“Malc always had a great voice,” says Stevens. “We were doing cover versions of The Band as we had got hold of an early copy of Music from Big Pink. If I remember right, Malc sang ‘the Weight’ and ‘Chest Fever’. It was really good.”

Two days after the Fleetwood Mac support gig, the band headed for south Wales to play at the Landland Bay Hotel in Swansea (billed as Gethsemaney).

A few weeks later, on Wednesday, 16 October, the band (billed as Geth Semane) appeared at the Railway Hotel in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts. The group would return to play there on Wednesday, 6 November.

Later that month, Gethsemane appeared at popular blues haunt the Nag’s Head in Battersea on Monday, 21 October and then two days later returned to Eel Pie Island to share the bill with Alan Bown.

Around this period, Gethsemane piqued the interest of Bee Gees producer Robert Stigwood, and through this association signed with Dick James Music (Northern Songs). While the idea was to record an album, the band soon ran into problems in the studio.

“I have an acetate of Elton John. It’s just him playing at the piano singing ‘Lady Samantha’ which is all about a ghost,” says Ketley.

“Dick James Music, Elton’s publisher gave us a recording to try and do our own version but Elton paid a visit one recording session and said he didn’t like what we were doing with his song so it never went ahead.”

“Musical differences” erupted between the group, Northern Songs and Robert Stigwood. It seems the producer was looking for something much more “poppy” from the group, who also cut a version of “Grease Monkey”, allegedly with future Average White Band member Alan Gorrie providing the bass and lead vocals. At the time, Gorrie’s band Hopscotch were flat mates with Gethsemane.

The decision to cut Elton John’s “Lady Samantha” seemed a rather unusual choice for a blues band. Perhaps the decision was made following an Elton John radio session, taped on 28 October at BBC’s Agolin Hall.

On that occasion, John recorded three tracks – “Lady Samantha”, “Across the Havens” and “Skyline Pigeon”, abetted by a studio group comprising long standing guitarist Caleb Quaye, session bass player Boots Slade (formerly of the Alan Price Set) and Malcolm Tomlinson on drums. The three songs were played on BBC’s Stuart Henry Show the following week.

Whatever the reason, the disappointment and frustration surrounding the LP sessions, together with an aborted attempt to record with guitarist Jeff Beck (the most plausible recording date is 18 September), appears to have been a major factor in driving the band apart.

During November 1968, the band ploughed on but was soon running out of steam. After a show at the Industrial Club in Norwich on Friday, 8 November, the group travelled to Reading the following Wednesday to play at the Thing-A-Me-Jig before moving on to Wolverhampton the next evening (14 November) to play the Club Lafayette (billed as Gethsemany).

Back in London, the group landed a gig at the Hornsey Wood Tavern in Finsbury Park the following evening (Friday, 15 November), sharing the bill once again with Jethro Tull. Aware that Mick Abrahams was leaving, Martin Barre auditioned for the guitar spot but it didn’t go well and he worried he’d missed out on his dream job.

With a show at the Crown Hotel in Birmingham on Tuesday, 26 November, Gethsemane began winding down operations, agreeing to split that Christmas.

A highly memorable gig at Dundee College of Art on 12 December opening for headliners, Pink Floyd, followed before Gethsemane returned to London to fulfil a few final engagements, including a show at the Pheasantry on the Kings Road, before dissolving.

“The last gig we ever did was at a college in Brook Green, Hammersmith and a guy from Island Records asked if we would be interested in signing up,” says Stevens.

“We didn’t want to know. We had had so many people saying so many times, ‘sign here and we will make you famous!’ Anyway, by that time, we had all decided to go our separate ways.”

Martin Barre has different recollections about Gethsemane’s final gig. “Terry Ellis form Chrysalis approached me to invite me to audition for Tull, which I did a few days later. It was the first one… it took two [to get the position]. He had been sent by Tull to find me and wasn’t interested in the band.”

Having discovered that Mick Abrahams’ replacement Tony Iommi had been dismissed after only a month in the band, Barre phoned Jethro Tull’s singer Ian Anderson to see if he could try out a second time for the band. [Ed – Tomlinson also auditioned at the same time.]

Stevens continues the story: “He didn’t have a very good guitar at the time and mentioned he desperately wanted a Les Paul Gibson for the audition. The guy in the flat below us in our Chiswick flat offered to lend him the £500 – pretty good considering that was quite heavy money in the late ’60s.”

Invited round to Anderson’s flat for a second audition, Barre got the “gig of his dreams”. The rest as they say is history. But what about his former band mates?

Having led a succession of groups from Johnny Devlin & The Detours through to Gethsemane, Bryan Stevens decided to sell his bass and used the money to help finance his studies. Returning to college, he later became a surveyor and currently lives in Chiswick.

Mike Ketley meanwhile returned to the south coast. Switching from keyboards to bass, he joined forces with a several former Noblemen and for a couple of years worked in a local band called The Concords. He later abandoned live work and after leaving music retail, worked for the Hammond Organ Company, then joined Yamaha Music UK retiring as MD after 32 years.

Stevens and Ketley have remained firm friends and in June 2002 re-joined former band mates in a Johnny Devlin & The Detours reunion held in Bognor Regis. Among the guests at the reunion was former Soundtracks guitarist Ray Flacke, who later went on to play with Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler. Ketley has also re-recorded “Model Village” with his son’s band called The Vybe.

Johnny Devlin and The Detours got together again in 2003 to headline a gathering of ’60s groups from Bognor for a sell-out night in aid of the hospice that looked after Barry Benson (P J Proby’s hairdresser) who had died of cancer a few months earlier. Called “Back to the ‘60s” such was its popularity that the annual event lasted for 10 years and raised nearly £70k for local charities in and around the Bognor Regis area.

Stevens and Ketley were involved in another significant reunion – after over 35 years, they finally met up with Penny Peeps singer Denny Alexander over the Christmas 2004 period. Another reunion took place on 29 March 2009.

Bryan Stevens, Mick Ketley and Denny Alexander, 2009

They also renewed contact with Malcolm Tomlinson, who, aside from Martin Barre, was the only member of the band to maintain a significant musical profile.

After Gethsemane’s demise, Tomlinson reunited with his former Jeff Curtis & The Flames cohort Louis McKelvey and in February 1969 moved to Toronto, Canada where the pair formed Milkwood with future Celine Dion backing singer Mary Lou Gauthier. (McKelvey, incidentally, had also been one of the hopefuls who auditioned for Ian Anderson and the guitar slot in Jethro Tull).

Milkwood, 1969. Left to right: Ron Frankel, Jack Geisinger, Louis McKelvey, Mary Lou Gauthier and Malcolm Tomlinson

During his first few months in the city, Tomlinson was called on to play drums and flute on ex-A Passing Fancy guitarist and singer/songwriter Jay Telfer’s ambitious solo album, Perch but unfortunately the recording was subsequently shelved, as was Milkwood’s own album, cut in New York that summer for the Polydor label with legendary producer Jerry Ragavoy.

However, Tomlinson did make a notable session appearance on label mate, Life’s eponymous lone album recorded in late 1969, providing a superb flute solo to the Terry Reid cover “Lovin’ Time”.

Milkwood’s greatest claim to fame was appearing at Toronto’s famous Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival concert on 13 September, just before John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band. Yet despite garnering praise from Jimi Hendrix in Cashbox magazine after he’d spotted the quintet playing at the Penny Farthing club in Yorkville Village, Milkwood imploded shortly after a show in Ottawa in late October.

Next up, Tomlinson briefly played with McKelvey in the short-lived biker group, Damage. One of the band’s most high profile shows was an appearance at the Toronto Rock Festival on 26 March 1970, appearing on the bill with Funkadelic, Luke & the Apostles, Nucleus and Leigh Ashford among others.

When that group folded in late 1970, Tomlinson briefly teamed up with former Elektra Records band, Rhinoceros before joining Syrinx in October 1971 and recording material for True North Records under the name, JFC Heartbeat.

He then worked with Toronto-based groups, Rambunkshish and Zig Zag alongside Toronto blues guitarist Danny Marks, before signing up with Bill King’s band during 1972.

Zig Zag, 1971 with Malcolm in white

More impressive, in 1973, he recorded an album’s worth of material with Rick James and the original Stone City Band, which is still to see a release.

Versatile as ever, Tomlinson subsequently played drums with Jackson Hawke, did sessions for Jay Telfer and then joined Bearfoot before recording two solo albums for A&M Records in 1977 and 1979 entitled Coming Outta Nowhere and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hermit. He dropped out of the recording scene during the ’80s and ’90s.

Malcolm Tomlinson 2004

However, in 2007, Tomlinson sang on Toronto group The Cameo Blues Band’s latest album. In June of that year, he played drums with ’60s folk-rock group, Kensington Market to celebrate the “Summer of Love” and also doubled up with Luke & the Apostles. Tomlinson died on 2 April 2016.

Louis McKelvey and Malcolm Tomlinson, Toronto, 2004

Denny Alexander has also passed away. He died on 6 December 2018 and both Mike Ketley and Bryan Stevens were pall bearers at his funeral in January 2019.

Thanks to Bryan Stevens, Mike Ketley, Martin Barre, Denny Alexander and Malcolm Tomlinson.

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

 

Magic Roundabout

Dave Martin Group, 1966. Left to right: Dave Martin, John Chinnery, Roger Flavell and Albert Woodward. Photo credit: John Chinnery
Dave Martin Group, 1966. Left to right: Dave Martin, John Chinnery, Roger Flavell and Albert Woodward. Photo credit:  Roger Flavell

This West London band’s roots can be found in The Dave Martin Group, which was formed around September 1966.

The original formation comprised:

Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals

John Chinnery – guitar/vocals

Roger Flavell – bass/vocals

Albert Woodward – drums

The Dave Martin Group was managed by John Chinnery’s older brother Geoff, who’d played with Mike Forde & The Fortunes in the late 1950s and early 1960s and briefly managed The Tridents (with a young Jeff Beck).

Guitarist John Chinnery had started out in a Hillingdon school band with Richard Walker and John Morgan. Albert Woodward, who attended another local school, completed the group.

Woodward introduced Martin Thomas and Roger Flavell and together with John Chinnery, the quartet began rehearsing at Ickenham Hall near Ruislip, Middlesex.

According to John’s brother Geoff Chinnery’s detailed gig list (complete with earnings for each performance), the new outfit’s debut show appears to have taken place on 28 October 1966 (most likely) at the Fisheries in Harefield, Middlesex. The gig list notes that The Dave Martin Group played at the same venue on 11, 18-19 and 26 November and also 3-4, 11 and 17 December.

The following gigs are then listed (during which period Roger Flavell was briefly replaced on bass while he had his tonsils out. John Chinnery suspects it was his school friend John Morgan, who covered Flavell’s absence).

Dave Martin Group gigs:

21 December 1966 – Ickenham Hall, Ickenham, northwest London

23 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

24 December 1966 – Harefield Football Club, Harefield, northwest London

30 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

31 December 1966 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

 

6 January 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

7 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

14 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

21 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

24 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

28 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London (Roger Flavell returns after this show)

29 January 1967 – Hesden Hall, Ruislip, northwest London

31 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

 

4 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

5 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

8-9 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

10 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

11 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

13-16 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

17-18 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

19 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

20-23 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

26 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

27 February-2 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

 

4 March 1967 – Hanwell Sports Club, Hanwell, west London

5 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

6-9 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

12 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

13 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

Dave Martin Group, 1967. Left to right: Lindsey Bex, Roger Flavell, John Chinnery and Dave Martin. Photo credit: John Chinnery
Dave Martin Group, 1967. Left to right: Lindsay Bex, Roger Flavell, John Chinnery and Dave Martin. Photo credit: Roger Flavell

At this point, Lindsay Bex replaced Albert Woodward on drums, who later became a percussion lecturer.

Older than the others, Lindsay Bex had worked with Geoff Chinnery in Mike Forde & The Fortunes during the late 1950s and early 1960s. In early 1964, Bex joined Chiswick band, The Tridents (who were managed by Geoff Chinnery). He remained with the group until about September 1964 during which time Jeff Beck joined on lead guitar.

In early 1965, Bex went to Germany for three months with The Redcaps and then played with various scratch bands before returning to Germany in 1966 to play American air bases with The Kathy Sampson Set. When Albert Woodward left suddenly, he accepted the call to join.

 

Dave Martin Group gigs (continued):

14-16 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

18 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Teddington, west London

20-23 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

24 March 1967 – Blue Coat Boy, Bishopsgate, City of London

25 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Old Kent Road, south London

26 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

27-30 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

31 March 1967 – All Stars Club, Artillery Passage, Liverpool Street, east London (audition)

 

2 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

3-6 April 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

7 April 1967 – West Dulwich Sports Club, West Dulwich, south London

8 April 1967 – Derwentwater Club, Acton, west London

9 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

15 April 1967 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford

17 April 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Streets, Soho, central London (audition)

22 April 1967 – Saracens Rugby Club, Finchley, north London

23 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

27 April 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London (audition)

30 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

 

7 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

8 May 1967 – St Moritz Club, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (audition)

13 May 1967 – Rank Xerox private party, Denham, Buckinghamshire

14 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

19 May 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

20 May 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire

27 May 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Five Proud Walkers

28 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

 

3 June 1967 – Wedding Reception, Tea Rooms, Kenton, northwest London

4 June 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London

8 June 1967 – RAF Northwood

9 June 1967 – Unknown venue, Purfleet, Essex

10 June 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London

12-15 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

16 June 1967 – ILI Co, Wembley, west London

17 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

19-23 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

23 June 1967 – UKAEA, Harwell, Oxfordshire with Brian Poole & The Unity

24 June 1967 – Wedding reception, Hendon, north London

26-29 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

30 June 1967 – Greenway School, Uxbridge, west London

During 1967, the band recorded a couple of demos at a studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire comprising Martin Thomas/Roger Flavell co-writes.

 

Dave Martin Group gigs (continued): 

3-6 July 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

8 July 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire

20 July 1967 – Pinn Club, RAF Uxbridge, West London

28 July 1967 – Epsom Youth Club, Epsom, Surrey

29 July 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

 

5 August 1967 – Thames Boat Trip, Westminster to Teddington

6 August 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London

12 August 1967 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire

 

31 August 1967 – Sword & Wheel Club, RAF Northolt, northwest London

At midnight, immediately after finishing the gig at RAF Northolt near Ruislip, the band had to pack up in order to drive down to Dover to catch the ferry to the continent and only just made the boat by the ‘skin of their teeth’. Having just turned professional, The Dave Martin Group changed its name to The Magic Roundabout and headed to Germany and then Switzerland.

Magic Roundabout in Bad Vilbel. Left to right: Roger Flavell, Dave Martin, John Chinnery and roadie Stuart Cook. Photo credit: John Chinnery
Magic Roundabout in Bad Vilbel. Left to right: Roger Flavell, Dave Martin, John Chinnery and roadie Stuart Cook. Photo credit: Roger Flavell

The Magic Roundabout gigs:

1-30 September 1967 – Ritterkelleer (9 performances) and Western Club (11 performances), Bad Vilbel, Frankfurt, West Germany

1-15 October 1967 – Haus Der Music, Wuppertal, West Germany with The Berkeley Squares (15 performances)

 

Arriving in Zurich, Switzerland, the band now briefly includes organist Dave Eldredge, a musician from Leicester group The Berkeley Squares, who split up after the shows in Wuppertal. Eldredge remains with the group until mid-November.

16 October-1 November 1967 – ‘Beat Club’, Hotel Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland (17 performances)

3-6 November 1967 – ‘Taverns Bar’, Ingolstadt, West Germany (4 performances) (the band’s final night is cancelled; a fight had broken out the previous night between US servicemen and German police and the club was wrecked. The club is closed for refurbishment and The Magic Roundabout head home to the UK.)

On the band’s return to the UK, organist John Elliott joined after Eldredge left. Geoff Chinnery had convinced the organist to join The Effect but this proved short-lived. Eldredge subsequently joined Pussyfoot.

Elliott had previously played with Ealing band, Magnus Pike with lead guitarist/singer Jerry Smith, bass player Roger Searle and drummer Tony Haslam. Searle and Haslam will later go on to work with The Who’s road crew.

Magic Roundabout’s new line up comprised:

Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals

John Chinnery – lead guitar/vocals

John Elliott – organ/vocals

Roger Flavell – bass/vocals

Lindsay Bex – drums

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

17 November 1967 – Women’s teachers’ training college (location not known)

18 November 1967 – Young Conservative’s Club, Twickenham, west London

25 November 1967 – YMCA, Baldock, Hertfordshire

 

4-7 December 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

8 December 1967 – Guild Hall, Ilford, east London

9 December 1967 – The Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

15 December 1967 – Gillettes, Great West Road, west London with Fortunes and Episode Six

16 December 1967 – RAF Feltwell

23 December 1967 – Rugby Club, Upton Park, Slough, Berkshire

26 December 1967 – Halfway House, Dunstable, Hertfordshire

31 December 1967 – Sword & Wheel Club, RAF Northolt, northwest London

 

1-4 January 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

5 January 1968 – Youth Club, West Drayton, west London

6 January 1968 – Baker’s Row Club, Cardiff (Bex’s bass drums falls off the roof rack on the way)

12 January 1968 – USAF Woodbridge, Suffolk

13 January 1968 – Hanwell Community Centre, Hanwell, west London

20 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London

24-25 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London

26 January 1968 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

27 January 1968 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

30 January 1968 – BBC Maida Vale (audition)

31 January-1 February 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London

 

Magic Roundabout, spring 1968. Left to right: Miki Anthony, Lindsey Bex, John Elliott, John Chinnery and Roger Flavell. Photo credit: John Chinnery
Magic Roundabout, spring 1968. Left to right: Miki Anthony, Lindsay Bex, John Elliott, John Chinnery and Roger Flavell. Photo credit: Roger Flavell

 

2 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

3 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Halstead, Braintree, Essex

10 February 1968 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire

12-15 February 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

16 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

17 February 1968 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire

21 February 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle Upon Tyne

29 February 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

 

1 March 1968 – County Ballroom, Carlisle, Cumbria

2 March 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

3 March 1968 – Woodhouse WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

8 March 1968 – RAF Club, Tredegar, Wales

9 March 1968 – Howard Winstone Club, Merthyr, Wales

10 March 1968 – Beech Grove, Pengham, Wales

13 March 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester

14 March 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

15 March 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

18 March 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire

24 March 1968 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire

25-27 March 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

29 March 1968 – Brighton Tech College, Brighton, West Sussex

After the above gig, singer Michael Derrick (aka Miki Anthony) took over from Martin Thomas and brought his own manager with him (which would see the band split with Geoff Chinnery).

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

20 April 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

21 April 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Sandbach, Cheshire

26 April 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

27 April 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

28 April 1968 – The Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset

29 April-2 May 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

 

3 May 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

4 May 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire

5 May 1968 – Woodhill, WMC, Normanton, West Yorkshire

11 May 1968 – Bradford University with Jeff Beck Group

17 May 1968 – Board of Trade, Eastcote,  northwest London

18 May 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester with Fleetwood Mac

19 May 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Sandbach, Cheshire

23 May 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

24-25 May 1968 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington

26 May 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

30 May 1968 – Kimbleworth Park Social Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

31 May 1968 – 270 Discotheque, Barnsley, West Yorkshire

Sometime around this time, the group recorded a cover of The Bee Gees’ “I Am The World”, which is never released.

 

Magic Roundabout, 1968. Left to right: Roger Flavell, John Elliott, John Chinnery, Miki Anthony and Lindsey Bex. Photo credit: John Chinnery
Magic Roundabout, 1968. Left to right: Roger Flavell, John Elliott, John Chinnery, Miki Anthony and Lindsay Bex. Photo credit: Roger Flavell

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

1 June 1968 – Manchester University

8 June 1968 – The Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset

14 June 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

15 June 1968 – Alexander Hall, Halifax, South Yorkshire with Jackson Union

20 June 1968 – Kimbleworth Park Social Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

21 June 1968 – Woodhill, WMC, Normanton, West Yorkshire

22 June 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire

24-27 June 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

28 June 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

29 June 1968 – University of Aston, Birmingham

30 June 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

 

1 July 1968 – Wilbeck Country Club, Hatfield, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire

2 July 1968 – Top Ranke Suite, Southampton, Hants

5 July 1968 – Cossack Club, Sir James Altham School, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire

6 July 1968 – Bellpunch, Uxbridge, west London

14 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

18 July 1968 – Cossack Club, Sir James Altham School, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire

19 July 1968 – Victoria & Bull, Dartford, Kent

20 July 1968 – Bourne School, Ruislip Manor, northwest London

25 July 1968 – Oasis Club, RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

26 July 1968 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex

28 July 1968 – A Train, Hayes, west London

29 July-1 August 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

 

2 August 1968 – Harrow Inn, Woolwich, south London

3 August 1968 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire

10 August 1968 – Airman’s Club, USAF, West Ruislip, northwest London

11 August 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

16 August 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

17 August 1968 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

18 August 1968 – Manor House, near Skipton, North Yorkshire

20 August 1968 – Almonbury WMC, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

21 August 1968 – Ponderose, Barnsley, West Yorkshire

22 August 1968 – Blue Bell, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

24 August 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire

30 August 1968 – RAF Whitton, Whitton, west London

Michael Derrick’s manager informed the band that he would take the singer away unless he can assume sole management and the musicians begrudgingly agreed as Geoff Chinnery had been managing them from the outset. Soon afterwards, Lindsay Bex and John Elliott both departed following the RAF Whitton gig, which (ironically) Chinnery believes was the band’s best performance to date.

Two weeks later, it was clear that the group’s career had ground to a halt and the band broke up. While Chinnery briefly abandoned a musical career and returned to work in insurance, Flavell subsequently joined Grand Union, the backing band for US soul act, Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon in 1969.

In late 1970, Flavell briefly played with Geno Washington before working with Tony Hazzard/Richard Barnes, Judd, Kris Ife and The Tommy Hunt Band. In the early Seventies, Flavell joined Christie and then went on to Johnny Wakelin & The Kinshasha Band, The Lonnie Donegan Band and The David Byron Band.

Miki Anthony meanwhile established a highly successful solo career.

John Chinnery and drummer Roger Willis, who have known each other since childhood and are Arsenal FC fans, decided to reform The Magic Roundabout around February 1969 with John Elliott, who has been working in a bank since the band’s break up in September 1968.

The Kool, 1967, featuring Ray Brown (far left). Photo credit: Ray Brown
The Kool, 1967, featuring Ray Brown (far left). Photo credit: Ray Brown

Ray Brown, who had previously played with Jeff Curtis & The Flames and The Kool agreed to join after his next band, Champagne appeared on the same bill as The Magic Roundabout.

Ray Brown (centre) with Champagne in 1968. Photo credit: Ray Brown
Ray Brown (centre) with Champagne in 1968. Photo credit: Ray Brown

Lead guitarist Ian Hollands, who had previously played with Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Legends answered an advert in the music press and completed the new formation.

The new Magic Roundabout formation now comprised:

Ian Hollands – lead guitar/vocals

John Chinnery – rhythm guitar/vocals

John Elliott – organ/vocals

Ray Brown – bass/vocals

Roger Willis – drums/vocals

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

9 May 1969 – Harefield Youth Club, Harefield, northwest London

17 May 1969 – R&B Club, Feltham, Middlesex

18 May 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

23 May 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London

31 May 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

 

6 June 1969 – Salvatorian College, Wealdstone, northwest London

7 June 1969 – White Hart, Tottenham, north London

13 June 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London

21 June 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

27 June 1969 – Woodford Youth Club, St Barnabos School

28 June 1969 – St Annes School, Hanwell, west London

 

3 July 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire

4 July 1969 – Pinkwell Youth Centre, Hayes, west London

6 July 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London

12 July 1969 – Bourne School, Ruislip Manor, northwest London

13 July 1969 – the Cherry Tree, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

18 July 1969 – King’s Head Disco, Harrow, northwest London

19 July 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

26 July 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

 

1 August 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London

2 August 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

7 August 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Watford, Hertfordshire

15 August 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

16 August 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

22 August 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

23 August 1969 – Spa Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

24 August 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London

30 August 1969 – Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk

31 August 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

26 September 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

27 September 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire

28 September 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

 

3 October 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

4 October 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

10 October 1969 – Grange Youth Centre, Hayes, west London

11 October 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

24 October 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

25 October 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

 

1 November 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

2 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

7 November 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

8 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

9 November 1969 – Hunter’s Club, Horn Hotel, Braintree, Essex

14 November 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, Essex

21 November 1969 – Kettering WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire

28 November 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

5 December 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

6 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

7 December 1969 – Headstone Hotel, North Harrow, northwest London

11 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

12 December 1969 – Harefield Youth Club, Harefield, northwest London

13 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

19 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

Magic Roundabout in 1969. Left to right: Ian Hollands, Ray Brown, John Chinnery and John Elliott. Photo credit: Ray Brown
Magic Roundabout in 1969. Left to right: Ian Hollands, Ray Brown, John Chinnery and John Elliott. Photo credit: Ray Brown

2 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London (Hollands ill)

8 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London (Hollands ill)

16 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

17 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

23 January 1970 – El Grotto Disco, Ilford, east London

24 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

30 January 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

7 February 1970 – Gillettes, Isleworth, Middlesex

8 February 1970 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London

12 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

13 February 1970 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

14 February 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

20 February 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

22 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

24 February 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

27 February 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

6 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

7 March 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton

12 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

14 March 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

20 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

21 March 1970 – Airmen’s Mess, USAF Wethersfield

26 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

28 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

 

Ray Brown (left) and Roger Willis on stage with Magic Roundabout. Photo credit: Ray Brown
Ray Brown (left) and Roger Willis on stage with Magic Roundabout. Photo credit: Ray Brown

3 April 1970 – AYA USAF West Ruislip, northwest London

4 April 1970 – Andromeda Club, Colchester, Essex

10 April 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

11 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

16 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

18 April 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

19 April 1970 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

24 April 1970 – West Ham College, West Ham, east London

 

2 May 1970 – Airmen’s Club, USAF Mildenhall

9 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

14 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

26 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

29 May 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

30 May 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe

 

1 June 1970 – King’s Head, Edmonton, north London (audition)

The band auditioned for the John Edwards Agency (most likely the above date), performing three songs, including a cover of The Moody Blues’ “Ride My See-Saw”.

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

4 June 1970 – Galaxy Club, RAF Northwood, northwest London

6 June 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

13 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

18 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

19 June 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

20 June 1970 – Braintree College, Braintree, Essex

26 June 1970 – Oases Club, RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

 

1 July 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe

3 July 1970 – Beaconsfield Youth Club

4 July 1970 – Airmen’s Annexe, USAF Upper Hayford

9 July 1970 – Angelique, King’s Road, southwest London

10 July 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London

11 July 1970 – North Park, WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire

15 July 1970 – Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip, northwest London

16 July 1970 – RAF High Wycombe

24 July 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton

25 July 1970 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

31 July 1970 – The Pheasantry, King’s Road, southwest London

PLEASE NOTE: There are some missing gigs from this list. John Chinnery believes that the group played until at least November 1970.

Sometime in 1970, the new line up got the opportunity to record two tracks at Abbey Road, which are never released. One is a cover of a song called “Everything Under The Sun”. The other is an early cover of Neil Diamond’s “Red, Red Wine”.

Around October 1970, John Elliott was invited to sing lead on a backing track – the Findon, Shelley, Hazelwood and Hammond collaboration, “Dark Side of the Moon”. Incidentally, Elton John had earlier cut a version.

Not long after, the rest of the band was brought into the studio and recorded an instrumental track composed by Ian Hollands. For some reason, Ray Brown was not available and former member Roger Flavell, who named the track “Black Boots”, provided bass. However, the song was later credited to producers Ben Findon and Pete Shelley.

Tragically, the band’s career then came to a dramatic halt after returning from a gig in Bedford around late October/early November 1970. Stopping off at Toddington Services on the M1, the band’s roadies went into the service station to get some food and someone broke into the van and stole much of the band’s equipment. Only John Chinnery was insured!

All of the remaining the gigs were cancelled but The Magic Roundabout did play its final gig on 31 December 1970 on borrowed gear because the money (£100) was too good to give up.

In the meantime, Findon and Shelley brought John Elliott back into the studio to add more vocals to “Dark Side of the Moon”.

With the band no longer active and unable to use The Magic Roundabout name, the producers released the single on Decca in May 1971 under The Outer Limits name.

Ian Hollands later played with a group called Mobius. Ray Brown briefly played with a harmony group from Tooting from January-February1971 before joining Easy Virtue and then Crackers.

Roger Willis meanwhile joined Capability Brown in 1972. After several albums, Willis and two other band members joined Christie, which featured original Magic Roundabout bass player Roger Flavell in the group.

Willis later played with a number of groups, including Crazy Kat, before reuniting with Ray Brown in Crackers.

In recent years, John Chinnery, Roger Flavell, John Elliott and Lindsey Bex have held four reunions.

A huge thanks to John Chinnery and Lindsay Bex for providing the gig lists  (from Geoff Chinnery) and to Roger Flavell, John Chinnery, Lindsey Bex, John Elliott, Ray Brown and Ian Hollands for helping with the group’s history. Thank you Roger Flavell, Lindsay Bex and Ray Brown for photos.

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 Bullets

E Biggs – vocals
P Ravenill – lead guitar
B Brown – rhythm guitar
J Bennett – bass
Keith McGregor – drums

The Bullets were a little known West London R&B band who participated in the 1962 Borough of Twickenham Rhythm contest on 28 April 1962 alongside Johnny & The Pursuers and Colin Shane & The Shannons.

Keith McGregor later played with Nightshift who had featured Jeff Beck on guitar before he had joined.

Garage Hangover would be interested to hear more about this band and what happened to its members.

Thanks to Alan Worrell for the information

The Bag O’ Nails, Kingly Street, Soho, central London

The Bag O’ Nails was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find confirmed gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions/corrections plus any posters of advertised gigs and photos of bands who appeared there (all credited accordingly).

1966

Opened in 1965, co-owners John Gunnell and Laurie Leslie launched the Bag O’ Nails as an upmarket, members-only, late night club during November 1966. Tony Knight’s Chessmen played on the opening night.

Colin Richardson, who joined the Rik Gunnell Agency in September 1966 and remained until December 1967, says his main job was to book Rik Gunnell Agency bands and in terms of the Bag O’ Nails, his role was probably to fill the ‘open’ dates with lesser known bands while the ‘name’ artists were booked by John or his brother Rik.

Colin says that, like the Cromwellian, Sibylla’s and the Speakeasy, the Bag O’ Nails had an extended licence to serve alcohol which required that food had to be made available to customers.

Like these other exclusive late night clubs, the Bag O’ Nails differed from rock venues like the Marquee and 100 Club in that punters generally didn’t go to see the band playing; the music was almost incidental. It was more a place to ‘hang out’ and to mix with media and music biz people and maybe spy the occasional rock star or celeb.

Colin states that when he took over bookings at the Bag O’  Nails, he usually put on a different band every night, though occasionally there could be runs of two or more nights. As noted above, the idea was to give the lesser known bands exposure to the influential audiences that frequented the club.

Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede’s manager Ken Baxter (who is no longer with us) kept a note of bookings and Douglas’ group had a residency at the club from 21 November to 4 December 1966. During this time, Jimi Hendrix sat in with the band once (possibly 25 November but see comments section at the very end).

The Jimi Hendrix Experience played its showcase gig on 25 November and many music celebrities attended the event, including Terry Reid, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and members of The Rolling Stones.

Drummer Tony Richard remembers that his band The Fetish Crowd played at the Bag O’ Nails (either in late 1966 or early 1967).

Keyboard player Tony O’Malley says that his band Malcolm Magaron & The Blueshealers played at the club during late 1966 and early 1967 before the backing musicians left Magaron to work with American singer Ronnie Jones and were billed as The Q-Set.

Steve Ellis’ website notes that the original Love Affair played at the Bag O’ Nails (either in late 1966 or early 1967).

21 November (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

22 November (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

23 November (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

24 November (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

25 November (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

Melody Maker reports that The Jimi Hendrix Experience played on 25 November, which would have been a showcase gig. It’s possible that he stayed on to sit in with Carl Douglas’ band later that evening (Colin Richardson’s website

26 November (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

27 November (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

28 November (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

29 November (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

30 November (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

The Stage’s 1 December issue reports that Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede have a ten-day stand but don’t say when it started. 

1 December (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

2 December (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

3 December (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

4 December (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

19 December (Monday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

Julian Covey & The Machine had a residency here which, judging by the January gig below, appeared to be on a Monday evening.

26 December (Monday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

According to Stage magazine, Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays, Tony Knight’s Chessmen and The Brian Auger Trinity played over the Christmas period.

1967

Singer James Royal says that his band The James Royal Set played at the Bag O’ Nails. This would have been 1967 and/or 1968.

Drummer Chris Hunt notes that his group The Good Time Losers played at the venue in 1967. The most likely period would have been February/March.

Drummer Dino Coccia says that he played with a Jamaican band called The Healers who worked at the Bag O’ Nails regularly throughout 1967 until June 1968 when they left for Beirut, Lebanon for a residency there.

The Healers. Photo: Dino Coccia

1 January (Sunday) – The Peddlers (Glenn Martin’s recollections, needs confirmation)

Drummer Glenn Martin says that when his group Hedgehoppers Anonymous split in early-mid January, he worked with singer Kenny Bernard at the Bag O’ Nails, taking over from The Peddlers, who had a residency here (most likely on Sundays). Bernard’s group played its first show at the Bag O’ Nails on Martin’s birthday (Sunday, 22 January). However, The Peddlers decided to continue their residency and returned the following week and Bernard’s group split with Martin reforming Hedgehoppers Anonymous.

2 January (Monday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (Fabulous 208)

8 January (Sunday) – The Peddlers (needs confirmationsee 1 January)

9 January (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

10 January (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

11 January (Wednesday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Fabulous 208)

15 January (Sunday) – The Peddlers (needs confirmationsee 1 January)

22 January (Sunday) – Kenny Bernard (Glenn Martin’s recollections – see 1 January)

29 January (Sunday) – The Peddlers (needs confirmationsee 1 January)

 

1 February (Wednesday) – Maxine Brown & The Q-Set (Fabulous 208 and Disc & Music Echo)

2 February (Thursday) – Maxine Brown & The Q-Set (Fabulous 208)

The Q-Set linked up with American singer Ronnie Jones in mid-March 1967 after he split with The Blue Jays and they played regularly at the Bag O’ Nails (see later).

7 February (Tuesday) – The Shotgun Express (Fabulous 208)

Phil Sawyer, the band’s lead guitarist, will join The Spencer Davis Group in April 1967.

8 February (Wednesday) – The Shotgun Express (Fabulous 208)

9 February (Thursday) – The Shotgun Express (Fabulous 208)

10 February (Friday) – The Shotgun Express (Fabulous 208)

According to Disc & Music Echo, the music magazine held its party at the Bag O’ Nails either on Sunday, 12 February or Sunday, 19 February and PJ Proby, Pete Townshend from The Who and Eric Clapton from Cream attended.

22 February (Wednesday) – Maxine Daniels (Fabulous 208)

25 February (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

Birmingham band, The Way of Life, featuring future Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham played at the Bag O’ Nails around late February 1967.

 

1 March (Wednesday) – The Real McCoy (Fabulous 208)

2 March (Thursday) – The Real McCoy (Fabulous 208)

3 March (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

4 March (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

5 March (Sunday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

6 March (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

7 March (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

8 March (Wednesday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

9 March (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

10 March (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

11 March (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

12 March (Sunday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

Colin Richardson, who booked some of the artists that performed at the Bag O’ Nails, remembers Otis Redding dropping in on 22 March (website: https://colinrichardson of any significance, bujazz.typepad.com/blog/2020/07/otis-reddinggentle-giant.html)

 

17 April (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

18 April (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

Disc & Music Echo’s 6 May issue reports that Georgie Fame, The Drifters, Zoot Money and Carl Douglas joined Ronnie Jones (& The Q-Set) for a jam session in the week starting 24 April. Tom Jones and Paul McCartney attended.

27 April (Thursday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Fabulous 208 and Disc & Music Echo)

 

According to the Berkhamsted Gazette & Tring District News, Errol Daniel & JJ Sound played at the Bag O’ Nails in early May 1967.

4 May (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

8 May (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 27 May issue, Ronnie Jones (& The Q-Set) played at the Bag O’ Nails in the week starting 15 May and Sandie Shaw, Chris Andrews and The Moody Blues were among the guests.

The same issue (27 May) notes that Georgie Fame, Dick Gregory, Mary Wells and Maxine Brown were recent bookings at the Bag O’ Nails.

15 May (Monday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Beatles Bible book)

Disc & Music Echo lists Georgie Fame at the venue on 15 May.

30 May (Tuesday) – Diane Ferraz & The Checkmates (Fabulous 208)

31 May (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

 

1 June (Thursday) – Diane Ferraz & The Checkmates (Fabulous 208)

3 June (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

4 June (Sunday) – Diane Ferraz & The Checkmates (Fabulous 208)

5 June (Monday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

6 June (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

7 June (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Fabulous 208 says that The Shevelles played on 7 June.

8 June (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

11 June (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

12 June (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

13 June (Tuesday) – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Fabulous 208)

14 June (Wednesday) – Diane Ferraz & The New Checkmates (Fabulous 208)

15 June (Thursday) – Diane Ferraz & The New Checkmates (Fabulous 208)

Melody Maker says that The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas played on 15 June.

16 June (Friday) – Felders Orioles (Fabulous 208)

Drummer John Halsey will join Timebox in August 1967

17 June (Saturday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

18 June (Sunday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

19 June (Monday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

20 June (Tuesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

21 June (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

22 June (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

23 June (Friday) – Amen Corner (Fabulous 208)

30 June (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

 

1 July (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

5 July (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

6 July (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

9 July (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

11 July (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

17 July (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

18 July (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

20 July (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

23 July (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

24 July (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

31 July (Monday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Disc & Music Echo)

 

1 August (Tuesday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

This group were formerly called Diane Ferraz & The (New) Checkmates. Colin Richardson, who booked some of the artists that appeared at the Bag O’ Nails, says that he suggested Ferris Wheel as a loose pun on Diane’s surname after they had told him they wanted to change their current name as they felt it sounded dated.

6 August (Sunday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

According to the Reading Evening Post, 12 August, Kenny Bernard (possibly fronting Cats Pyjamas) plays around this time. 

13 August (Sunday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

22 August (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

28 August (Monday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

31 August (Thursday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

 

2 September (Saturday) – Chicken Shack (Melody Maker)

Chicken Shack featured future Fleetwood Mac singer/pianist Christine Perfect (aka McVie).

3 September (Sunday) – Chicken Shack (Melody Maker)

8 September (Friday) – Chicken Shack (Melody Maker)

9 September (Saturday) – Chicken Shack (Melody Maker)

11 September (Monday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

14 September (Thursday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Fabulous 208)

Future Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor was with the band at this point.

18 September (Monday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

19 September (Tuesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Fabulous 208)

20 September (Wednesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Fabulous 208)

21 September (Thursday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Fabulous 208)

22 September (Friday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Fabulous 208)

23 September (Saturday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Fabulous 208)

24 September (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Fabulous 208)

25 September (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

Fabulous 208 has Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames on 25 September.

 

6 October (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

12 October (Thursday) – Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208)

16 October (Monday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

17 October (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

21 October (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

22 October (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

24 October (Tuesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

30 October (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

 

2 November (Thursday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

6 November (Monday) – Ben E King (Disc & Music Echo)

16 November (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

19 November (Sunday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

22 November (Wednesday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

28 November – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

Fabulous 208 has Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band on 28 November. John Warburg says JJ Jackson performed on this date.

30 November (Thursday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

 

6 December (Wednesday) – Long John Baldry (and Bluesology) (Disc & Music Echo)

Pianist Reg Dwight (aka Elton John) was most likely still with Bluesology at this point.

8 December (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

16 December (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

Colin Richardson, who worked at for the Gunnell Agency booking artists, says he came up with the Cats Pyjamas name. Most of the band had previously worked as The Loose Ends but when their two singers Alan Marshall and Bob Saker left during the summer and the musicians were linked with new singer Kenny Bernard, they decided they wanted a new name.

23 December (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

27 December (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

29 December (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

30 December (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

1968

Guitarist Paul Brett says that he played at the Bag O’ Nails, which would have been with Tintern Abbey and/or later bands.

Sax player Geoff Glover says that The All Night Workers played at the Bag O’ Nails regularly, which would have been between 1968-1971.

2 January (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

4 January (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

9 January (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

10 January (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

11 January (Thursday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

12 January (Friday) – Garnet Mimms (needs confirmation)

Some acts this month mirrored the bookings at the Cromwellian.

15 January (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

17 January (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

18 January (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

19 January (Friday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

21 January (Sunday) – Jimmy McGriff (Melody Maker)

23 January (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

24 January (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

29 January (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

Fabulous 208 lists Edwin Starr for 29 January.

 

1 February (Thursday) – John L Watson & The Web (needs confirmation)

Some acts this month mirrored the bookings at the Cromwellian.

5 February (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

9 February (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

10 February (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

19 February (Monday) – Robert Parker (New Musical Express)

20 February (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

 

According to Melbourne music magazine, Go-Set, Australian band The Groop played the Bag O’ Nails between early March and mid-April.

2 March (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

7 March (Thursday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

11 March (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

12 March (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

Melody Maker reports that Fleetwood Mac, Zoot Money and Cliff Bennett were due to play at the Bag O’ Nails around this time.

20 March (Wednesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

25 March (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

26 March (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

27 March (Wednesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

 

9 April (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

14 April (Sunday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

15 April (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

22 April (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Melody Maker)

 

9 May (Thursday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

10 May (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

13 May (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

20 May (Monday) – Edwin Starr & The State Express (Melody Maker)

21 May (Tuesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

22 May (Wednesday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

It is possible that JJ Jackson may also have played on 22 May.

30 May (Thursday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

31 May (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

 

4 July (Thursday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

6 July (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

26 July (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

28 July (Sunday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

 

2 August (Friday) – The Penny Peep Show (needs confirmation that it happened but advertised)

The Penny Peep Show’s guitarist Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull in December 1968.

8 August (Thursday) – Happy Magazine (Fabulous 208)

11 August (Sunday) – Selofane (Fabulous 208)

12 August (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

18 August (Sunday) – Selofane (Fabulous 208)

20 August (Tuesday) – Selofane (Fabulous 208)

25 August (Sunday) – Selofane (Fabulous 208)

30 August (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

31 August (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

 

2 September (Monday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

According to the Stroud News, Gass played at the Bag O’ Nails just before 14 September.

20 September (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

21 September (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

25 September (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

29 September (Sunday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

 

2 October (Wednesday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Fabulous 208)

3 October (Thursday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208 and Time Out)

4 October (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas and Selofane (Colin Pullen’s gig diary, Fabulous 208 and Time Out)

5 October (Saturday) – Cats Pyjamas and Selofane (Colin Pullen’s gig diary, Fabulous 208 and Time Out)

6 October (Sunday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

9 October (Wednesday) – Cliff Bennett (Fabulous 208)

16 October (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

20 October (Sunday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

24 October (Thursday) – Cliff Bennett and Circus (Melody Maker and website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

25 October (Friday) – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)

27 October (Sunday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

 

4 November (Monday) – Toast (Melody Maker)

 

10 December (Tuesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

17 December (Tuesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

1969

Guitarist and violinist Mike Piggott says that Gass played at the Bag O’ Nails during 1969-1970.

Topper Clay from The New York Public Library notes that his group played this venue.

7 January (Tuesday) – Cliff Bennet (Fabulous 208)

8 January (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

15 January (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

20 January (Monday) – Junior Walker & The All Stars (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

22 January (Wednesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

28 January (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

4 February (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

10 February (Monday) – Toast (Melody Maker)

21 February (Friday) – My Dear Watson and Ben E King (Melody Maker)

New Musical Express reports that Ben E King was backed by The Chris Shakespeare Globe Show for the February UK tour.

22 February (Saturday) – My Dear Watson (Melody Maker)

 

6 March (Thursday) – Freddy King (Melody Maker)

7 March (Friday) – My Dear Watson (Fabulous 208)

8 March (Saturday) – My Dear Watson (Fabulous 208)

13 March (Thursday) – Toast (Melody Maker)

14 March (Friday) – My Dear Watson (Fabulous 208)

 

7 April (Monday) – Girl Talk (Melody Maker)

 

5 May (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

14 May (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

2 July (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

9 July (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

17 July (Thursday) – Jimmy Ruffin with Sweet Blindness (Time Out)

 

10 August (Sunday) – James & Bobby Purify (Time Out)

15 August (Friday) – Glass Menagerie (Time Out)

18 August (Monday) – Cliff Bennett (Time Out)

19 August (Tuesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Time Out)

20 August (Wednesday) – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)

Guitarist Terry Edmunds, who played with Ferris Wheel and had previously worked with Tony Knight’s Chessmen when they opened the Bag O’ Nails in late 1966, says that it was quite a period with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney attending. He also recalls American singers like Diana Ross and Wilson Pickett getting on stage with Ferris Wheel. Edmunds adds that La Valbonne across the street from the Bag O’ Nails was a place to popular nightspot.

25 August (Monday) – Cliff Bennett (Time Out)

26 August (Tuesday) – The Amboy Dukes (Time Out)

27 August (Wednesday) – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)

 

22 September (Monday) – Prince Buster (Time Out)

Melody Maker lists The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas on 22 September.

 

28 October (Tuesday) – Howlin Wolf and Junco Partners (Melody Maker)

 

19 November (Wednesday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (John Warburg research)

20 November (Thursday) – Bo Diddley (Melody Maker)

 

1 December (Monday) – The Ronnetts (John Warburg research)

8 December (Monday) – The Upsetters (John Warburg research)

18 December (Thursday) – Black Apple (Time Out)

19 December (Friday) – Lucas & The Soul Band (Time Out)

21 December (Sunday) – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)

24 December (Wednesday) – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)

26 December (Friday) – The Rebel Rousers (Time Out)

27 December (Saturday) – The Eyes of Blue (Time Out)

30 December (Tuesday) – The Pavement (Time Out)

31 December (Wednesday) – The Web (Time Out)

1970

Guitarist Keith Kendall confirmed that The All Night Workers played at the Bag O’ Nails this year when he was a member.

1 January (Thursday) – The Rebel Rousers (Time Out)

5 January (Monday) – The Perishers (Time Out)

7 January (Wednesday) – Timebox (Time Out)

26 January (Monday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)

5 March (Thursday) – Slade (Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/dons-gigs-1963—1970.html)

 

24 October (Saturday) – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare gig diary)

Ted Hare’s diary doesn’t list the artist’s name on his books but drummer Geoff Coxon confirmed that this was for Calum Bryce. This is true of the other listings below.

 

6 November (Friday) – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare gig diary)

7 November (Saturday) – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare gig diary)

1971

14 January (Thursday) – Calum Bryce (Ted Hare gig diary)

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.

 

Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

The Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, southeast London was a popular live music venue during the 1960s. I’ve started to compile a list of artists that performed there and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as any memories of the pub. This is an incomplete listing

1964

12 April – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

17 May – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

31 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

 

21 June – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

5 July – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

 

23 August – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

 

12 September – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

18 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

29 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

6 December – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

1965

All of the listings below for 1965 are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

Peter Hicks, who was a member of The Down & Outs, has a newspaper clipping of his band in the scrapbook section of his website which notes that the band opened for The Animals, The Mark Leeman Five and The Moody Blues at this venue (most likely 1965).

3 January – The Graham Bond Organisation

10 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

17 January – Tony Knight’s Chessmen

24 January – The Downliners Sect

31 January – The Spencer Davis Group

 

7 February – The Moody Blues

14 February – The Animals

21 February – The Graham Bond Organisation with The Epitaph Soul Band (confirmed by article in Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

28 February – Buddy Guy with Rod Stewart and The Soul Agents (with Rod Stewart)

 

7 March – The Mark Leeman Five

14 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

21 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

28 March – The Downliners Sect

 

4 April – The Moody Blues

The Just Blues appeared on one occasion when The Moody Blues played here (see John Farrier’s comment below)

Photo: Jeff Brook-Smith’s family

11 April – Long John Baldry

18 April – Alex Harvey Soul Band

25 April – The Graham Bond Organisation

 

2 May – The Five Dimensions and The Loose Ends

9 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

16 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

23 May – Memphis Slim and Alex Harvey Soul Band

30 May – The Mark Leeman Five

 

6 June – Jack Dupree with The Mike Cotton Sound

13 June – The Graham Bond Organisation

20 June – The Artwoods

19 June – Jazz & Blues Festival with Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers, Epitaph Soul Band and The Loose Ends (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times, 25 June 1965, page 12
Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times, 25 June 1965, page 12

27 June – The Five Dimensions

 

4 July – Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart

11 July – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

18 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 July – The Spencer Davis Group and The Epitaphs Soul Band

The Epitaphs Soul Band featured Mick Fletcher on keyboards who went on to The New Generation (briefly Jimmy Cliff’s backing band), The Hamilton Movement (1966-1967) and The Amboy Dukes (1969-1970).

Earlier in their career, guitarist Del Grace was a member. He went on to The Big Wheel before joining Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Andy Clark also played sax with them in late 1965 before switching to organ and joining The Big Wheel in spring 1966. He later played with The Fenmen (aka Kindness), Sam Gopal, VAMP and Clark-Hutchinson among others.

 

1 August – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones

8 August – Alex Harvey Soul Band

15 August – The Graham Bond Organisation

22 August – The Blond Bombshell (from the US)

29 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

 

5 September – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

12 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

19 September – Steampacket

26 September – The Graham Bond Organisation

 

3 October – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

10 October – Alex Harvey Soul Band

17 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

24 October – The Spencer Davis Group

31 October – T-Bone Walker

 

7 November – Steampacket

14 November – The Graham Bond Organisation

21 November – The Shevelles

28 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

 

5 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

12 December – missing

19 December – missing

26 December – missing

1966

All of the listings below for 1966 are from South East London Mercury unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

2 January – missing

9 January – The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)

16 January – missing

23 January – missing

30 January – The Spencer Davis Group

 

6 February – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band

13 February – The Graham Bond Organisation

The Big Wheel Soul Band opened for Graham Bond’s group at some point

20 February – missing

27 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

 

6 March – The Action

13 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

20 March – Melody Maker notes “Great blues singer from the US” (could this be John Lee Hooker?)

27 March – Steampacket

 

3 April – missing

10 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 April – Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band

24 April – The Moody Blues

 

1 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

8 May – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

15 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

22 May – missing

29 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

 

5 June – The Downliners Sect

12 June – Steampacket

19 June – The Shotgun Express

26 June – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror)

 

3 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Eric Silk’s Stompers

10 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

24 July – The Alan Price Set (Fabulous 208 and Record Mirror)

30 July – The Graham Bond Organisation

 

7 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

14 August – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

21 August – The Shotgun Express

28 August – missing

 

4 September – The Moody Blues

11 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

18 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

 

2 October – The Shevelles

9 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

16 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

23 October – The Mike Cotton Sound

30 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

 

6 November – missing

13 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

20 November – The Downliners Sect

27 November – Guy Darrell

 

4 December – missing

11 December – Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

18 December – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

Fabulous 208 has Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band on 18 December

24 December – Mike Cotton Sound with support

1967

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz.

I have listed the sources next to the entries. There are indications from some of the dates below that rock gigs occasionally happened on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well.

1 January – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

8 January – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

15 January – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

22 January – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker)

29 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

 

5 February – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

12 February – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

19 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

26 February – Long John Baldry with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

 

5 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

12 March – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

14 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

19 March – Cliff Bennett’s Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

26 March – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

 

2 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

9 April – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

16 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

23 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

25 April – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

30 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

 

7 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)

14 May – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Melody Maker)

21 May – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

28 May – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

30 May – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

 

4 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diarySouth East London Mercury has The Coloured Raisins

11 June – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

2 July – The Coloured Raisins with Honey Darling and Earl Green (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 July – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 July – Mike Cotton with Lucas (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 July – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

6 August – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology) (Phil Mackie’s diary)

13 August – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

20 August – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

27 August – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

3 September – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 September – Freddie Mack Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

1 October – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

8 October – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 October – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

22 October – Ben E King (Phil Mackie’s diary)

29 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

4 November – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

7 November – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

12 November – Dantalion’s Chariot (Phil Mackie’s diary)

19 November – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

26 November – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

3 December – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 December – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 December – Peter’s Green Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 December – The Shevelles and Terry Lightfoot Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 December – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set and Alan Elsdon’s Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

1968

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz. I have listed the sources next to the entries.

7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

21 January – The Freddie Mack Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

4 February – The Cliff Bennett Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

11 February – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 February – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

3 March – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 March – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 March – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 March – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 March – The Impressions (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

7 April – The Jeff Beck Group featuring Rod Stewart (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 April – The Piccadilly Six (Swiss band) (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

21 April – The Showstoppers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 April – The Cliff Bennett Band

 

5 May – Spooky Tooth (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 May – The Counts (Melody Maker – this was a Thursday)

12 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 May – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

19 May – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 May – The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

26 May – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

 

2 June – Lucas with The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 June – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 June – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers with The Satin Dolls (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 June – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

30 June – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

 

7 July – Diane Ferraz & The Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

14 July – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker)

21 July – Tony Gregory & The Counts (Melody Maker)

28 July – Traffic (Melody Maker)

 

4 August – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

11 August – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

18 August – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

25 August – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

 

1 September – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

8 September – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker)

15 September – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

22 September – Timebox (Melody Maker)

29 September – The Drifters (Melody Maker)

 

6 October – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

12 October – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker – this is a Saturday)

20 October – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

27 October – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

 

3 November – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

10 November – Inez and Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)

17 November – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

24 November – Ferris Wheel and Nepenthe (Melody Maker)

 

1 December – Garnet Mimms with Village Green (Melody Maker)

2 December – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

8 December – Bandwagon (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

10 December – Simon K & The Meantimers and Olaf Grumps Kneed (Melody Maker/South East London Mercury – this was a Tuesday)

15 December – Timebox (Melody Maker)

22 December – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

28 December – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1969

Judging by the gigs below, rock bands continued to play on Sundays with occasional gigs on other days of the week.

5 January – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

12 January – Root and Jenny Jackson (Melody Maker)

19 January – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

26 January – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

 

2 February – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

South East London Mercury has The Nice not Spooky Tooth

Photo: South East London Mercury

9 February – Happy Magazine (Melody Maker)

16 February – The Fantastics (Fabulous 208) 

Melody Maker has Timebox for the 16 February gig as does South East London Mercury

23 February – Freddie King and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)

Martin Coller got in touch and noted that The Nice were billed to play on 23 February according to Martyn Hanson’s book “Hang on To  Dream: The Story of The Nice”.

2 March – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

9 March – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker)

16 March – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

23 March – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

30 March – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

2 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker – this was a Wednesday)

6 April – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

13 April – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)

20 April – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 April – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

 

4 May – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

11 May – Toast (Melody Maker)

18 May – Howlin’ Wolf (Melody Maker)

25 May – The Riot Squad (Melody Maker)

 

1 June – No listing in Melody Maker

8 June – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

15 June – John Lee Hooker with The John Dummer Blues Band (Melody Maker)

22 June – Consortium (Melody Maker)

29 June – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

6 July – Timebox (Melody Maker)

13 July – The Platters (Melody Maker)

20 July – The Joyce Bond Show (Melody Maker)

27 July – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

 

3 August – The Brian Auger Trinity (Time Out)

10 August – Trapeze (Melody Maker)

17 August – The Globe Show (Melody Maker)

24 August – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

31 August – Timebox (Melody Maker)

 

7 September – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

14 September – The Cliff Bennett Show (Melody Maker)

21 September – Linda Lewis and Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

28 September – The Dave Amboy Big Band (Melody Maker)

 

5 October – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)

12 October – Zoot Money (Melody Maker)

19 October – The Greatest Show on Earth  (Melody Maker)

25 October – The Brian Auger Trinity (Melody Maker)

 

2 November – Marv Johnson (Melody Maker)

9 November – Timebox  (Melody Maker)

16 November – Freddie King  (Melody Maker)

23 November – No entry in Melody Maker

30 November – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

 

7 December – The Dave Amboy Band (aka The Amboy Dukes) (Melody Maker and Keith Guster’s diary)

According to Keith Guster, this was the reformed version featuring Keith Guster and Tago Byers from The Fleur De Lys and former Hamilton Movement keyboard player Mick Fletcher.

14 December – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

16 December – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

21 December – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

28 December – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)

1970

8 February – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

 

27 September – Black Widow and Amazing Grace (Poster from Roy Saxby)

Photo: Roy Saxby

4 October – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

11 October – Caravan (Poster from Roy Saxby)

18 October – Chicken Shack (Poster from Roy Saxby)

25 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Poster from Roy Saxby)

 

1 November – Blodwyn Pig (Poster from Roy Saxby)

Photo: Roy Saxby

6 December – The Faces featuring Rod Stewart with Daniels Band (Poster from Roy Saxby)

13 December – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

20 December – Toe Fat with Albuquerque-Riccoti (Poster from Roy Saxby)

24 December – The Greatest Show on Earth with Tony Simon’s Progressive Show (Poster from Roy Saxby)

27 December – Argent (Poster from Roy Saxby)

31 December – Patto (Poster from Roy Saxby)

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.

Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

Burton’s in Uxbridge was an important music venue in West London throughout the 1960s.

I have started to compile a list below and would welcome any additions, particularly where there are gaps. Also, artists didn’t always appear despite being advertised so it would be great to hear from anyone who has any corrections.

Judging by the entries, bands played every Saturday with occasional gigs on other nights of the week.

1961

8 July – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

The band was billed as The Rebel Rousers for early gigs in 1961

15 July – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

22 July – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

 

12 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

26 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

 

9 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

23 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

30 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

11 November – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

 

2 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

24 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post – this was a Sunday)

31 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post –this was a Sunday)

1962

24 March – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Uxbridge Post)

1963

25 May – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat MonthlyNeeds confirmation

 

8 June – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat MonthlyNeeds confirmation

22 June – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat MonthlyNeeds confirmation

 

13 July – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat MonthlyNeeds confirmation

 

10 August – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat Monthly/Harrow Weekly Post)

 

7 September – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat Monthly)

 

19 October – The Federals (Beat Monthly)

 

14 December – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat Monthly)

1964

11 January – The Federals (Beat Monthly)

 

7 March – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s gig diary)

 

31 December – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s gig diary)

1965

9 January – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s gig diary)

30 January – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

 

9 February – The Birds (Ronnie Wood’s book, How Can It Be? A Rock & Roll Diary)

 

23 March – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s book, The Yardbirds – the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page)

 

6 April – The Birds (Ronnie Wood’s book, How Can It Be? A Rock & Roll Diary)

 

8 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

29 June – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)

 

6 July – The Birds (Ronnie Wood’s book, How Can It Be? A Rock & Roll Diary)

31 July – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

 

28 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

 

14 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Record Mirror)

24 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Boyfriend magazine)

31 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Boyfriend magazine)

1966

8 January – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s gig diary)

15 January – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Record Mirror)

18 January – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror – this was a Tuesday)

 

5 February – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s gig diary)

15 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Beat Instrumental)

 

12 March – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Record Mirror)

19 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Beat Instrumental)

 

8-9 April – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

 

7 May – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

10 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)

14 May – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Record Mirror)

 

11 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Beat Instrumental)

 

2 July – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

9 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

12 July – The Birds (Fabulous 208 – this was a Tuesday)

30 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Fabulous 208)

 

6 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208)

I have Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band also playing on 6 August

20 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

26 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 – this was a Friday)

27 August – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)

30 August – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

 

17 September – The Alan Bown Set (Fabulous 208)

 

1 October – The Fenmen (Fabulous 208)

22 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

 

26 November – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)

 

20 December – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Fabulous 208 – this was a Tuesday)

24 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Army (Fabulous 208 and Tony Tacon’s memories)

Fabulous 208 also has The Amboy Dukes on 24 December

31 December – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

1967

7 January – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

 

3 March – The Alan Bown Set (Fabulous 208 – this was a Friday so wondering if it was 4 March)

11 March – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

14 March – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

17 March – Marmalade (Fabulous 208 – this was a Friday)

18 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary)

21 March – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

24 March – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208 – this was a Friday, so wondering if was 25 March)

 

22 April – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)

 

12 May – The Coloured Raisins, King Ossie and Honey Darling (Melody Maker – this was a Friday so wondering if it was 13 May)

20 May – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

 

3 June – Jeff Beck Group (Melody Maker)

9 June – The Gnomes of Zurich and Guy Darrell (Melody Maker – this is a Friday)

Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ gigs website (Badfinger) has The Iveys and Guy Darrell on the same date as The Gnomes of Zurich

10 June – Marmalade (Melody Maker)

16 June – The Alan Bown Set (Melody Maker – this is a Friday)

17 June – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)

24 June – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary)

 

1 July – The Freddie Mack Sound (Melody Maker)

 

5 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

12 August – The Washington DCs (Melody Maker)

19 August – The Freddie Mack Show (Melody Maker)

26 August – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker/Hillingdon Mirror)

 

2 September – The Alan Bown Set (Melody Maker/Hillingdon Mirror)

9 September – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker/Hillingdon Mirror)

16 September – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208, Melody Maker and Hillingdon Mirror)

23 September – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary)

30 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208/Hillingdon Mirror)

7 October – Marmalade (Melody Maker/Hillingdon Mirror)

14 October – The Gass (Melody Maker)

21 October – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

28 October – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker/Hillingdon Mirror)

 

4 November – The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Melody Maker)

11 November – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Melody Maker)

18 November – The Shell Shock Show (Melody Maker/Hillingdon Mirror)

25 November – The Cat Show (Melody Maker)

2 December – The Alan Price Set and The Army (Melody Maker)

9 December – The Ebony Keys (Melody Maker)

16 December – The Alan Bown Set (Melody Maker)

23 December – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

24 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

30 December – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Melody Maker)

31 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

It is possible that Steve Priest’s group The Army may have supported Cliff Bennett on new year’s eve but it needs confirmation

1968

All the entries for this year are from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.

6 January – The Shell Shock Show with Owen Grey

13 January – Marmalade

20 January – The Amboy Dukes

27 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set

 

3 February – Cat Soul Band with US Flat Top

10 February – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

17 February – The Jimmy James Show

24 February – The Freddie Mack Show

 

2 March – Joe E Young & The Toniks

9 March – The Joyce Bond Revue

16 March – The Coloured Raisins

23 March – The Amboy Dukes

30 March – Jimmy Cliff and Wynder K Frog

 

6 April – The Skatalites

12 April – The Amboy Dukes (this was a Friday)

13 April – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

20 April – The Alan Bown

27 April – Jimmy Cliff and Wynder K Frog

 

4 May – The Shell Shock Show

11 May – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

18 May – The Joyce Bond Revue

25 May – The Amboy Dukes

 

1 June – The Skatalites

8 June – The Coloured Raisins

15 June – The Amboy Dukes

22 June – The Joyce Bond Revue

29 June – The Counts

 

6 July – The Skatalites

13 July – The Coloured Raisins

20 July – Jimmy Cliff and Wynder K Frog

27 July – Cliff Bennett & His Band

 

3 August – The Amboy Dukes

10 August – The Coloured Raisins

17 August – The Joyce Bond Revue

24 August – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

31 August – The Counts

 

7 September – The Coloured Raisins

14 September – Simon K & The Meantimers

21 September – Jimmy Cliff and Wynder K Frog

28 September – Root and Jenny Jackson

 

5 October – The Joyce Bond Revue

12 October – The Counts

19 October – The Coloured Raisins

26 October – Little John & The Shadrocks

2 November – The Sharrons

9 November – The Amboy Dukes

16 November – The Alan Bown

23 November – The Counts and The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

30 November – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

7 December – The Skatalites (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

14 December – The Spectrum (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

21 December – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

24 December – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post – this was a Tuesday)

28 December – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

31 December – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post – this was a Tuesday)

1969

4 January – Marmalade (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Melody Maker has The Coloured Raisins on 4 January and considering Marmalade also played on 18 January, it’s possible Melody Maker is correct

11 January – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

18 January – Marmalade (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

25 January – Little John & The Shadrocks (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Melody Maker has Jimmy James & The Vagabonds on 25 January

 

1 February – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

8 February – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

15 February – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

22 February – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

1 March – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

8 March – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

15 March – US Flat Top and the Cat Road Show (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

22 March – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Melody Maker has Desmond Dekker on 22 March as well

29 March – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

5 April – Timebox (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

12 April – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

19 April – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

26 April – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

3 May – Springfield Park (Melody Maker and Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Melody Maker appears to stop advertising Burton’s after this date

10 May – US Flat Top and The Cat Road Show (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

17 May – The Joyce Bond Revue (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

24 May – Chris Shakespeare & The Globe Show (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

31 May – The Amboy Dukes (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

7 June – Simon K & The Meantimers (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

14 June – The Coloured Raisins (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

I am missing entries for the rest of the year and would welcome any additions

1970

31 October – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

I am missing entries for 1970 and would welcome any additions

 

Many thanks to Rolf Hannet for providing gigs from Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental

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.

The Boathouse, Kew, west London

Kew Boathouse clubAccording to Don Craine of The Downliners Sect fame (who played there as the original Downliners in 1962 and as The Downliners Sect in 1963), the Boathouse at Kew was run by the Jones brothers and was considered to be one of the best southwest/west London gigs, along with Hounslow Baths, the Capital R Feltham, and Southall Community Centre.

Craine adds that the club had two stages. He remembers that at one gig, The Mark Leeman Five played on the other stage when The Downliners Sect were there.

Kew Boathouse was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue and posters of advertised gigs as well as band photos (all credited accordingly).

1961

11 February 1961 (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

 

25 March 1961 (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

 

22 December 1961 (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

1962

11 June 1962 (Monday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)

Photo: Peter Wright. Peter’s father designing a poster for the venue – see comments section below.

1963

Rhythm guitarist Keith Gardiner says that his band Jeff Curtis & The Flames played at Kew Boathouse in 1963 on a bill headed by Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.

John Plumer, who played with The John Dee Combo, says that they played regularly at the club on Friday nights when he was doing his ‘A’ levels.

As well as Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, he also remembers Pat Cresswell & The Crescents playing here whose guitarist was future Hot Chocolate member Harvey Hinsley.

The Packabeats, 1963. Photo from Malcolm Lenny.

Malcolm Lenny says that Tony Holland & The Packabeats played here in the early days.

30 November 1963 (Saturday) – The Tridents (Paul Lucas’ gig diary)

Photo: Peter Wright

1964

14 February 1964 (Friday) – The Tridents (Lindsay Bex’s gig diary)

18 April 1964 (Saturday) – The Tridents (Paul Lucas’ gig diary)

Jeff Beck didn’t join on lead guitar until early September 1964.

10 October 1964 (Saturday) – The Tridents (Paul Lucas’ gig diary)

Jeff Beck was the band’s lead guitarist now.

1966

25 August 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)

1967

There are lots of gaps in this year and I would welcome any additions, clarifications and corrections.

According to Gray Newell, The Locomotion played at the venue during 1967-1968.

24 January 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

31 January 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

 

8 February 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

9 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

13 February 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

14 February 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

15 February 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

16 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

20 February 1967 (Monday) ­– The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

21 February 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

22 February 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

23 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

27 February 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

28 February 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

Dave Martin Group gig list. Thanks to Geoff Chinnery

1 March 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

2 March 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

6 March 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

7 March 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

8 March 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

9 March 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

13 March 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

14 March 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

15 March 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

16 March 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

21 March 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

22 March 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

23 March 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

27 March 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

28 March 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

29 March 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

30 March 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

 

3 April 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

4 April 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

5 April 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

6 April 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

Jack’s Union. Left to right: Paul Gardner, Terry Sullivan and Dave Mann. Photo: Paul Gardner

8 May 1967 (Monday) – Jack’s Union (Melody Maker)

9 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Jack’s Union (Melody Maker)

10 May 1967 (Wednesday) – Jack’s Union (Melody Maker)

11 May 1967 (Thursday) – Jack’s Union (Melody Maker)

Guitarist Paul Gardner got in touch (see comments below). This power trio, based on The Who, morphed out of The Select and would later changed name to Rainbow Reflection. Later, Gardner and drummer Terry Sullivan formed Dry Ice. Gardner later recorded with Pluto while Sullivan joined Renaissance.  

19 May 1967 (Friday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

29 May 1967 (Monday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

30 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

31 May 1967 (Wednesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

 

1 June 1967 (Thursday) – Marshal Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

5 June 1967 (Monday) – The Patch (Hounslow Post)

6 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Patch (Hounslow Post)

7 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The Patch (Hounslow Post)

8 June 1967 (Thursday) – The Patch (Hounslow Post)

12 June 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

13 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

14 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

15 June 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

19 June 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

20 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

21 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

22 June 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

26 June 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

27 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

28 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

29 June 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

 

3 July 1967 (Monday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

4 July 1967 (Tuesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

5 July 1967 (Wednesday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

6 July 1967 (Thursday) – The Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

10 July 1967 (Monday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

11 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

12 July 1967 (Wednesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

13 July 1967 (Thursday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

17 July 1967 (Monday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

18 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

19 July 1967 (Wednesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

20 July 1967 (Thursday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

24 July 1967 (Monday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

25 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

26 July 1967 (Wednesday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

27 July 1967 (Thursday) – Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

 

14 August 1967 (Monday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

15 August 1967 (Tuesday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

17 August 1967 (Thursday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

21 August 1967 (Monday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

22 August 1967 (Tuesday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

23 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

24 August 1967 (Thursday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

28 August 1967 (Monday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

29 August 1967 (Tuesday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

30 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Atmosphere (Hounslow Post)

31 August 1967 (Thursday)– Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

 

4 September 1967 (Monday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

5 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

6 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

18 September 1967 (Monday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

19 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

20 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

Future Genesis drummer John Mayhew played with Milton’s Fingers in 1968-1969.

Thanks to Mick Grant for providing the image

25 September 1967 (Monday) – Respect (Hounslow Post)

26 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Respect (Hounslow Post)

27 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Respect (Hounslow Post)

28 September 1967 (Thursday) – Respect (Hounslow Post)

Respect at the Boathouse. Photo: Mick Grant

2 October 1967 (Monday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

3 October 1967 (Tuesday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

4 October 1967 (Wednesday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

5 October 1967 (Thursday) – Impulse (Hounslow Post)

9 October 1967 (Monday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

10 October 1967 (Tuesday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

11 October 1967 (Wednesday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

12 October 1967 (Thursday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

16 October 1967  (Monday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

17 October 1967  (Tuesday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

18 October 1967  (Wednesday) – Milton’s Fingers (Hounslow Post)

24 November 1967 (Friday) – The Washington DCs (Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette)

27 November 1967 (Monday) – The Washington DCs and The Motives (Thames Valley Times and Hounslow Edition of Middlesex Chronicle)

 

4 December 1967 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

5 December 1967 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

6 December 1967 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

7 December 1967 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

8 December 1967 (Friday) – The Hummingbirds (Thames Valley Times and Hounslow Edition of Middlesex Chronicle)

31 December 1967 (Sunday) – The Arrows (Thames Valley Times)

Alan Box of Locomotion at the Kew Boathouse
Alan Box of Locomotion at the Kew Boathouse. Thanks to Gray Newell for photo.

1968

The Thames Valley Times reports that the club puts on gigs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Considering that some groups had residencies from Monday-Thursday, it looks like there may have been live music every night of the week. There are lots of gaps for 1968. I would welcome any additions, clarifications and corrections.

Ray Brown who played with The Kool until December 1967 and then formed Champagne remembers both groups appearing on the same bill during 1968.

According to the Crawdaddy Blues Band website, the band Sudden Change played at Kew Boathouse during 1967-1968.

1 January 1968 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

2 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

3 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

4 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

Photo: Gray Newell

2 February 1968 (Friday) – The Frinton Bassett Blues Band (Poster from Gray Newell)

3 February 1968 (Saturday) – Sudden Change (Poster from Gray Newell)

4 February 1968 (Sunday) – Rosemarys E Motion (Poster from Gray Newell)

9 February 1968 (Friday) – The New Frinton Bassett Blues Band (Hounslow Post) Poster has Evolution on this date

10 February 1968 (Saturday) – The King Cossaks (Poster from Gray Newell)

11 February 1968 (Sunday) – Rosemarys E Motion (Poster from Gray Newell)

The Hounslow Post says that the group Fire played recently.

12 February 1968 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

13 February 1968 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

14 February 1968 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

15 February 1968 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

16 February 1968 (Friday) – The Frinton Bassett Blues Band (Poster from Gray Newell)

17 February 1968 (Saturday) – The Bluesville Band (Poster from Gray Newell)

18 February 1968 (Sunday) – Rosemarys E Motion (Poster from Gray Newell)

23 February 1968 (Friday) – Katch 22 and The Arrows (Thames Valley Times)

24 February 1968 (Saturday) – Locomotion (Poster from Gray Newell)

25 February 1968 (Sunday) – Rosemarys E Motion (Poster from Gray Newell)

 

15 March 1968 (Friday) – Time & Motion (Thames Valley Times)

25 March 1968 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

26 March 1968 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

27 March 1968 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

28 March 1968 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

29 March 1968 (Friday) – The Astronauts (Thames Valley Times)

 

12 April 1968 (Friday) – Carnival Special (Thames Valley Times)

14 April 1968 (Sunday) – Bob Wallis (Thames Valley Times)

Thames Valley Times notes that jazz started this Sunday

21 April 1968 (Sunday) – Alan Elsdon (Thames Valley Times)

28 April 1968 (Sunday) – Terry Lightfoot (Thames Valley Times)

29 April 1968 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

30 April 1968 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

 

1 May 1968 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

2 May 1968 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

 

21 June 1968 (Friday) – One group plays (Thames Valley Times)

22 June 1968 (Saturday) – Two groups play (Thames Valley Times)

24 June 1968 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

25 June 1968 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

26 June 1968 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

27 June 1968 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

Magic Roundabout gig list. Thanks to Geoff Chinnery

30 June 1968 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

 

12 July 1968 (Friday) – Episode Six (Thames Valley Times)

19 July 1968 (Friday) – Appearance (Thames Valley Times)

21 July 1968 (Sunday) – The Equals (Thames Valley Times)

26 July 1968 (Friday) – The Coloured Raisins (Thames Valley Times)

29 July 1968 (Monday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

30 July 1968 (Tuesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

31 July 1968 (Wednesday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

 

1 August 1968 (Thursday) – The Magic Roundabout (Geoff Chinnery’s gig list – thanks to Roger Flavell for sharing)

16 August 1968 (Friday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Thames Valley Times, Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

25 August 1968 (Friday) – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker)

 

13 September 1968 (Friday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker and Thames Valley Times)

14 September 1968 (Saturday) – Two groups play (Thames Valley Times)

15 September 1968 (Sunday) – The Foundations ((Thames Valley Times)

22 September 1968 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & His Band (Thames Valley Times)

27 September 1968 (Friday) – The Skatalites (Thames Valley Times)

28 September 1968 (Saturday) – Two groups play (Thames Valley Times)

29 September 1968 (Sunday) – The Coloured Raisins (Thames Valley Times)

 

2 October 1968 (Wednesday) – Ferris Wheel (Fabulous 208)

8 October 1968 (Tuesday) – The Pretty Things (Time Out)

11 October 1968 (Friday) – The Move (Melody Maker and Thames Valley Times)

20 October 1968 (Sunday) – Fleetwood Mac (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

25 October 1968 (Friday) – Pink Floyd (Melody Maker and Thames Valley Times)

 

8 November 1968 (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Thames Valley Times)

22 November 1968 (Friday) – The Coloured Raisins (Thames Valley Times)

 

13 December 1968 (Friday) – Trifle (Thames Valley Times)

27 December 1968 (Friday) – The Jon James Swamp (Thames Valley Times)

1969

Martin Samuel, the drummer with Heatwave, says that the band’s debut performance was a four-night stand at Kew Boathouse in 1969 for which they were paid a total of £40.

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.

Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London

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 diaryJeff 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’ diary and 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 MakerHarrow 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 MakerIan 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 MakerHarrow 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)

 

7 July (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

21 July (Friday) – Episode Six (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 July (Friday) – The Moody Blues (Harrow Weekly Post)

Rupert’s People were also advertised originally but considering the gig on 11 August, they probably didn’t appear.

 

4 August (Friday) – The Syrian Blues (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 August (Sunday) – Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)

11 August (Friday) – Rupert’s People (Harrow Weekly Post)

Disc & Music Echo reports that this was Rupert’s People’s debut gig.

17 August (Thursday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 August (Friday) – Robert Hirst & The Big Taste (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

1 September (Friday) – Episode Six (Harrow Weekly Post)

8 September (Friday) – The Syrian Blues (Harrow Weekly Post)

The Original Drifters were booked originally for this date.

22 September (Friday) – James & Bobby Purify with The New York Public Library (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September (Friday) – Studio Six (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

6 October (Friday) – The Coloured Raisins (Harrow Weekly Post)

13 October (Friday) – Whistling Jack Smith and The Quiet Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 October (Tuesday) – The Original Drifters (Harrow Weekly Post)

24 October (Tuesday) – The Symbols (Harrow Weekly Post)

31 October (Tuesday) – The Isley Brothers (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

14 November (Tuesday) – The Fabulous Temptations with The House of Orange (this is The Fantastics) (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 November (Saturday) – The Army (Melody Maker)

Future Sweet bass player Steve Priest was a member of The Army.

28 November (Tuesday) – The Electric Prunes (Fabulous 208)

The visiting Californian band was on a short UK tour and surprisingly played this small venue.

 

23 December (Saturday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Frank Torpey’s gig diary)

Three of the original Sweet members (Brian Connolly, Mick Tucker and Frank Torpey) were part of Wainwright’s Gentlemen at this point.

1968

1 June (Saturday) – Baron Richthofen’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

9 August (Friday) – The Group Show (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

11 August (Sunday) – Smokey Orange (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

16 August (Friday) – Advance Rate (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

18 August (Sunday) – The Beatstalkes (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

23 August (Friday) – The Nights (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

25 August (Sunday) – The Sweetshop (aka The Sweet) (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

30 August (Friday) – Late Night Love (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

1 September (Sunday) – Freddie Fingers Lee (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

13 September (Friday) – The House of Lords (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

15 September (Sunday) – Episode Six (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

18 September (Wednesday) – The Nights (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

21 September (Saturday) – The Cast (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

22 September (Sunday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

25 September (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

28 September (Saturday) – The Market (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September (Sunday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

 

2 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

5 October (Saturday) – The Fresh Windows and The Outside Toilet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

6 October (Sunday) – Marmalade and Coconut Ice (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

9 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

12 October (Saturday) – Two top groups (Harrow Weekly Post)

13 October (Sunday) – Timebox (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

16 October (Wednesday) – Merlin Q (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

19 October (Saturday) – The Tracts (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

20 October (Sunday) – Episode Six (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

Episode Six were replaced by The Tremeloes plus support band.

23 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

26 October (Saturday) – The Bobcats (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

27 October (Sunday) – The New Formula with support (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

30 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

 

2 November (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

3 November (Sunday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Acceleration (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

6 November (Wednesday) – Pop group (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 November (Saturday) – The Colours (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

10 November (Sunday) – Little John & The Shadrocks (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

13 November (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

16 November (Saturday) – Top groups (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 November (Sunday) – Vanity Fair (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

20 November (Wednesday) – The Forbidden Fruit (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

24 November (Sunday) – The Paradox (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

27 November (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

30 November (Saturday) – Andy Cannon Quartet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

 

1 December (Sunday) – The Tremeloes and Coconut Ice (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

4 December (Wednesday) – The Tremeloes (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

7 December (Saturday) – The Craven Brothers and Cabaret Show (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

8 December (Sunday) – Marmalade (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

14 December (Saturday) – The Four Sounds (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

15 December (Sunday) – Locomotive (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

18 December (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

22 December (Sunday) – The Dream Police (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

29 December (Sunday) – The Tremeloes (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Harrow Weekly Post reports that New Formula replaced The Tremeloes

1969

19 January (Sunday) – The Youngblood (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

26 January (Sunday) – The Formula (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

2 February (Sunday) – Danny Diaz & The Checkmates (from Hong Kong) (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

2 March (Sunday) – Harmony Grass (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

9 March (Sunday) – Justin Marhyr (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

16 March (Sunday) – Red Beans & Rice (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

23 March (Sunday) – Joyce Bond Revue (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

30 March (Sunday) – John L Watson & The Web (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

26 April (Saturday) – The Cats (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

4 May (Sunday) – The Nights (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

11 May (Sunday) – Episode Six (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

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.

Gethsemane (featuring Martin Barre)

Martin Barre (lead guitar, flute)
Mick Ketley (keyboards, lead vocals)
Bryan Stevens (bass)
Malcolm Tomlinson (drums, flute, lead vocals)
 

1968

August After backing visiting US soul acts as The Noblemen (July-November 1966); working as stax/soul band, The Motivation (November 1966-August 1967); and Mod/psych outfit The Penny Peep Show/Penny Peeps (August 1967-August 1968), the group changes its name to Gethsemane to reflect the burgeoning British blues scene. Soon after, the band’s singer Denny Alexander drops out and keyboard player Mike Ketley and drummer Malcolm Tomlinson assume joint lead vocals.

(11) Barre attends the 8th National Jazz and Blues Festival at Kempton Park, Sunbury, Surrey and catches Jethro Tull, who really impress him. He will audition for the band on a couple of occasions later in the year.

Gethsemane Soul Band play at the Royal Lido in Prestatyn, Wales with The Informers.

(24) Gethsemane Soul Band play at the Royal Lido in Prestatyn, Wales with The Informers.

Gethsemane at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, Middlesex.

(25) Working as a quartet, the band plays one of its first shows as Gethsemane at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, west London. The band gets an early copy of The Band’s Music From The Big Pink, which is a major influence on Gethesmane’s members. Tomlinson will handle lead vocals on covers of “The Weight” and “Chest Fever”.

(28) Gethsemane play at Eel Pie Island with The Nice and this is the most plausible date.

(31) Billed as Gethsemanie, the band opens the Van Dike Club in Plymouth, Devon with Jethro Tull.

September (9) Geth Semane play at the Aurora Hotel in Gillingham, Kent.


(14) Billed as Geth Semane, the band makes an appearance at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London on a star-studded bill that also includes The Scaffold, David Bowie and Junior’s Eyes. DJ John Peel, who is allegedly a huge fan, records the band’s set and plays it on his radio show the following week.

(18) Gethsemane are hired to participate in a studio session with guitarist Jeff Beck (which most likely takes place on this date) but the session does not go well and is aborted.

(22) Billed as Geth And Semane, the quartet play at the Linden Sports Club in Bournemouth, Dorset.

(28) Gethsemane play at the Stage Club in Oxford.

October (5) Gethsemane support Fleetwood Mac at the Links, Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire.

(7) Billed as Gethsemaney, the quartet appear at Samantha’s in the  Langland Bay Hotel in Swansea, South Wales with The Liquid Umbrella.

(16) Billed as Geth Semane, they replace The Keef Hartley Band at Rambling Jack’s Blues Club at the Railway Hotel in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.

(21) They appear at the Blue Horizon club in the Nag’s Head in Battersea, southwest London.

(23) Billed as Geth Semane, they open for Alan Bown at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, Middlesex.

(28) Malcolm Tomlinson is hired to back Elton John on a BBC radio session at Agolin Hall. Joined by bass player Boots Slade and guitarist Caleb Quaye, the band records “Lady Samantha”, “Across The Havens” and “Skyline Pigeon”. The three songs are played on BBC radio’s Stuart Henry Show the following week.

November Gethsemane pique the interest of Bee Gees producer Robert Stigwood, who signs them to Dick James Music. The plan is to record an album and the band cuts a version of Elton John’s “Lady Samantha”. They also cut a version of Jack McDuff’s “Grease Monkey” but it is shelved after the album sessions are brought to a close following a disagreement over direction with Stigwood. Incidentally, Alan Gorey from flat mates Hopscotch plays bass and sings on one of the recordings.

(6) Billed as Geth Semane, they return to the Railway Hotel in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts for a show supported by White Mule.

(8) Gethsemane appear at the Industrial Club in Norwich. The advert says that the group has played the Marquee and the Middle Earth in Covent Garden

(11) Billed as Geth Semane, the band appear at the Staffordshire Yeoman, Stafford, Staffordshire

(13) The quartet plays at the Thing-A-Me-Jig in Reading, Berkshire.

(14) Billed as Gethsemany, the band appears at the Club Lafayatte in Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Barmy Barry.

(15) Gethsemane support Jethro Tull at the Hornsey Wood Tavern in Finsbury Park, London. Guitarist Martin Barre will audition unsuccessfully for the guitar spot in Jethro Tull shortly afterwards.

(26) Gethsemane appear at the Crown Hotel, Birmingham with The Redhouse Blues Band.

December (12) Gethsemane open for Pink Floyd at the Dundee College of Art in Dundee, Scotland.

(20) Westminster & Pimlico News‘ 20 December issue reports that Gethsemane have played at the Pheasantry on Kings Road recently. Around this time, the band plays its final show at a college in Brook Green, Hammersmith, having already decided to split up. Terry Ellis from Island Records attends the show and tries in vain to sign the band, but no one is interested. Ellis suggests that Barre audition for the lead guitar spot in Jethro Tull. Stevens sells his bass and uses the money to help finance his studies. He returns to college and later becomes a surveyor. Stevens currently lives in Chiswick. Ketley switches from keyboards to bass and reunites with Tomlinson’s predecessor Bernie Smith in the Southcoast band The Concords. He later becomes senior director at Yamaha Kemble Music UK Limited.

(24) Barre joins Jethro Tull after successfully auditioning a second time. His former band mate Malcolm Tomlinson allegedly also tries out on guitar as does his friend Louis McKelvey, who returned from Canada in July 1968 after playing in Influence. Barre and Tomlinson have visited McKelvey at his Colville Square home near Portobello Market.

(30) Barre makes his debut with Jethro Tull at the Winter Gardens in Penzance, Cornwall.

1969

January After reuniting with Louis McKelvey, who had worked with Tomlinson in the early 1960s Ealing band, Jeff Curtis & The Flames, the drummer leaves the UK with McKelvey and moves to Toronto where they form Milkwood. The band appears at the famous Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival show in September 1969 and record an unreleased LP for Polydor with Jerry Ragavoy producing. Tomlinson will go on to appear on recordings by Jay Telfer, Life, JFC Heartbeat, Rick James & The Stone City Band and Bearfoot among others before issuing two solo albums for A&M in 1977 and 1979 – Coming Outta Nowhere and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hermit. He later sings with The Cameo Blues Band but dies in April 2016.

Sources:
The Day Before Yesterday – Rock, Rythmn and Jazz in the Bishop’s Stortford area from 1957-1969 by Steve Ingless, Scila Productions, 1999.
Flying Colours by Greg Russo, Crossfire Publications, 2009.
The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s by Mike Read, Woodfield Publishing, 2001.

Many thanks to Bryan Stevens, Mick Ketley, Malcolm Tomlinson, Denny Alexander, Louis McKelvey, Greg Russo and Rosemary White.

Disclaimer: Concert adverts have been sourced from a number of music magazines and regional newspapers listed below. They have been reproduced fairly for research purposes and are not to be copied for any other use.

Live dates sourced from a number of sources including: Melody Maker, Western Evening Herald, Oxford Mail, Wrexham Leader. See other newspapers sources in the comments below.

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. 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