Photo: Nick Simper. Left to right: Johnny Kidd, Mick Stewart, Roger Truth, Nick Simper and Ray Soper at Kingsbury Odeon on 21 May 1966
Johnny Kidd (lead vocals)
Mick Stewart (lead guitar/vocals)
Nick Simper (bass/vocals)
Ray Soper (keyboards)
Roger Truth (drums)
When legendary British singer Johnny Kidd decided to part with the original Pirates after a gig on 19 April 1966, he had some outstanding gigs to honour and hired several, temporary, groups to fulfil the bookings, one of which was west London R&B outfit Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
The band’s drummer, Pete Burt, younger brother of Dave Burt in Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, was a window cleaner and was cleaning Kidd’s windows one day when they got talking. The group played a couple of gigs with Kidd, including a naval base in Chatham, before keyboard player Ray Soper was fired.
Unknown group back Kidd as The New Pirates. Image may be subject to copyright
Interestingly, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates played at the annual Festival Gardens Gala in Battersea on 7 May but it’s very doubtful that his backing band were The Flames on this occasion as they were performing at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon on this date.
Soper decided to form a new group to carry on as Kidd’s new version of The Pirates and got hold of his friend, bass player Nick Simper, who he’d previously worked with in Buddy Britten & The Regents and Cryano & The Bergeracs during late 1964-mid-1965. Roger Truth was the drummer in both groups.
In need of a guitarist, they brought in Mick Stewart who’d, previously played with a number of west London bands, notably The Redcaps and The All-Nite Workers (who briefly backed singer Simon Scott).
?? July 1966 – Gig in Seaton, Devon (most likely Seaton Beat Club at Seaton Town Hall)
Ray Soper left at this point and joined The Denims/Headline News
?? August 1966 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset with Eden Kane (with Peter Sarstedt on bass)
?? August 1966 – Gig in Grimsby, Lincolnshire
19 August 1966 – Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland (first date on Scottish tour) with The Red Hawks, Dunfermline Boys, The Ivy League, The Jay-Birds, The St Louis Union and David and Jonathan (http://www.adiebarrett.co.uk/johnnykidd/timeline/timeline.htm)
Image may be subject to copyright
26 August 1966 – The Leys, Clacton, Essex with Hap & Unit Four and Buzz Inc (Essex County Standard)
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29 August 1966 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Outer Limits (Nantwich Chronicle)
29 August 1966 – Regal Ballroom, Ripley, Derbyshire (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph) Also booked to play 12 November 1966 but cancelled
3 September 1966 – Birmingham Flower Show, Handsworth Park, Birmingham with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Sports Argus)
3 September 1966 – Gig in Orpington, Kent
19-25 September 1966 – Cabaret dates at Flamingo Club, Darlington with Robb Storme & The Whispers (with former Mojos member Lewis Collins on bass)
1 October 1966 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
6 October 1966 – Gig in Oldham (some source say Bolton), Lancashire (cancelled)
7 October 1966 – Tried to get gig at Nelson Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire but not successful
Kidd and Simper were involved in a car crash on the return journey to London in the early hours of 8 October, a few miles south of Bury, Lancashire. Simper was seriously injured. Kidd, however, was pronounced dead on his arrival at Bolton Royal Infirmary.
In the aftermath, Mick Stewart participated in a Jerry Lee Lewis tour. Then, once Simper had recuperated, Simper and Stewart hooked up with Bobby Hebb for a UK tour, debuting on 1 December 1966 while Truth joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound.
The New Pirates:
Mick Stewart (lead guitar/vocals)
Nick Simper (bass/vocals)
John Carroll (keyboards/vocals)
Roger Truth (drums)
Sometime in early February, Simper and Stewart decided to reform The New Pirates. Truth, who’d been playing with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, agreed to re-join and they brought in keyboard player John Carroll, who’d recently left Tony Knight’s Chessmen.
According to Melody Maker, The New Pirates played at the Upper Cut in Forest Gate, east London on 17 February 1967 with The Afex and The Trekkas.
Image may be subject to copyright
However, the Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express lists The Apex and Jo Jo Gunne as support.
Photo: Nick Simper. Left to right: John Carroll, Roger Truth, Nick Simper and Mick Stewart, February 1967 prior to Cornwall tour
Truth played the London show and then, a few days before a short tour of Cornwall commenced, he returned to Freddie Mack’s band, possibly for that group’s gig at the Village in Cleethorpes on 22 February.
James Smith, who’d worked with Carroll in The London Beats in 1965, auditioned but turned the job down and subsequently joined Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement in March (replacing Phil Wainman).
John Kerrison, who’d previously drummed with a number of bands, notably Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Rockin’ Eccentrics, took his place.
The revised line-up undertook the Cornwall tour and played a couple of gigs in England before heading to Scotland.
Notable gigs:
23 February 1967 – Royal Naval Air Station, Helston, Cornwall
Image may be subject to copyright
24 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall with The Hoboes (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
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25 February 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Other Five (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
3 March 1967 – Gig in Welwyn Garden City, Herts (possibly Woodhall Community Centre)
24-25 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Unit 4 Plus 2, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Mack Sound
27 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Unit 4 Plus 2, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Mack Sound
Returning to London, the band found there was little demand for The New Pirates and the members started to look around for other work.
Thanks to his contacts with bass player Peter Carney who he had worked with in The Flexmen and The London Beats (and briefly Tony Knight’s Chessmen), Carroll played with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band for a few weeks (debuting on 26 April in Croydon) before Dave Greenslade was taken on as a permanent member.
According to Nick Simper’s website, The New Pirates met on 1 May 1967 to discuss their future and decided to go their separate ways.
Later that month, Simper would join Billie Davis & The Quality. However, when work dried up, he became a member of Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages during July. Next he signed up with The Flowerpot Men (September 1967-February 1968) before forming the original Deep Purple.
After his brief time with Geno Washington, John Carroll worked with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers from August 1967 through to March 1968. He then played with The Flowerpot Men briefly (just after Simper had departed). In early 1969, he was part of the backing band appearing on Stevie Wonder’s UK tour.
In late August, 1967, John Kerrison joined Episode Six who featured future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover and remained until August 1968.
After working on a few projects (including working with Don Arden’s son David), Mick Stewart joined Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement around October 1967 and stayed until April 1968. He then worked with The James Royal Set before working briefly with The Flowerpot Men in late 1968 (after Carroll had departed). During 1969, he replaced Frank Torpey in The Sweet.
Interestingly, a band called themselves The New Pirates was billed to perform the following dates, but it’s not clear who the musicians were.
2 July 1967 (for two weeks) – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
Roger Truth might have been one of the members as he left Freddie Mack at the end of June 1967.
Big thank you to Adrian Barrett, Nick Simper, Ray Soper, John Carroll, Mick Stewart and John Kerrison.
Photo: Hillingdon Mirror, August 1967. Image may be subject to copyright
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Adopting the name Episode Six in the summer of 1964, the line-up featured in an article published in the Harrow Weekly Post from 22 July, page 15 was as follows:
Graham Carter-Dimmock – rhythm guitar/vocals (b. 27 April 1944, Hatch End, Middlesex)
Tony Lander – lead guitar (b. 10 August 1947, Cambridge)
Roger Glover – bass (b. 30 November 1945, Brecon, Wales)
Harvey Shields – drums (b. 6 September 1946, Twickenham, Middlesex)
1964
30 May 1964 – Territorial Army Centre, Harrow, Middlesex (Harrow Observer) Formerly The Lightnings
24 July 1964 – Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Rubies (Essex Chronicle)
7 November 1964 – Westcliff Hotel, Clacton, Essex (Essex County Standard)
14 November 1964 – Glendale Hall, N15, north London (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
1965
19 January 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex with Jimmy Bond & The MI5 and The Beachcombers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
30 March 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex with The Prophets and The Group Five (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
When Andy Ross left, Ian Gillan (b. 19 August 1945, Hounslow, Middlesex) joined from Wainwright’s Gentlemen after performing his final gig with them on 26 April 1965 at the Seagull Hotel, Southall, London
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24 July 1965 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks (Buckinghamshire Advertiser)
8 October 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette) Melody Maker has this as 7 October
31 December 1965 – Harrow County Boys, Harrow, northwest London (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1966
1 January 1966 – Royal Oak, Dagenham, east London (Brian Long research)
2 January 1966 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, northwest London (Brian Long research)
3 January 1966 – The Bluesday Club, Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
6 January 1966 – Coventry Locarno, Coventry, West Midlands (Brian Long research)
7 January 1966 – USAF High Wycombe, High Wycombe, Bucks (Brian Long research)
8 January 1966 – USAF Alconbury, Alconbury, Cambridgeshire (Brian Long research)
11 January 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
13 January 1966 – Nottingham Palais, Nottingham (Brian Long research)
14 January 1966 – Black Cat, Woolwich, southeast London (Brian Long research)
15 January 1966 – Ikelstone Palais, Ikelstone, Derbyshire (Brian Long research)
16 January 1966 – Royal Oak, Dagenham, east London (Brian Long research)
18 January 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, London (Brian Long research)
22 January 1966 – Westcliffe Hotel, Clacton, Essex (Brian Long research)
24 January 1966 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Brian Long research)
25 January 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
27 January 1966 – Nottingham Palais, Nottingham (Brian Long research)
28 January 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
The Hounslow Post on 28 January 1966, page 8 has an article and picture on the band
29 January 1966 – Borough Polytechnic, Borough, south London (Brian Long research)
30 January 1966 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London (Brian Long research)
1 February 1966 – ‘Ready Steady Radio’, Lyceum, Strand, central London (Brian Long research)
4 February 1966 – USAF Welford, Welford, Northamptonshire (Brian Long research)
5 February 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
6 February 1966 – USAF Alconbury, Alconbury, Cambridgeshire (Brian Long research)
7 February 1966 – Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, west London (Brian Long research)
8 February 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
10 February 1966 – Canon’s Club (unknown location) (Brian Long research)
11 February 1966 – Royal Forest Hotel, Chingford, east London (Brian Long research)
12 February 1966 – Acton works social, Acton, west London (Brian Long research)
13 February 1966 – Big L Discotheque, Charing Cross Road, central London (Brian Long research)
14 February 1966 – Peterborough Nurses’ Home, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Brian Long research)
15 February 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
16 February 1966 – Silver Blades Ice Rink, Streatham, southwest London (Brian Long research)
18 February 1966 – RAF Abingdon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire (Brian Long research)
19 February 1966 – Woodford Memorial Hall, Woodford, east London (Brian Long research)
20 February 1966 – Royal Oak, Dagenham, east London (Brian Long research)
21 February 1966 – Kettering Workingmen’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Brian Long research)
22 February 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
24 February 1966 – Nottingham Palais, Nottingham (Brian Long research)
26 February 1966 – Ikelstone Palais, Ikelstone, Derbyshire (Brian Long research)
27 February 1966 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London (Brian Long research)
28 February 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford (Brian Long research)
1 March 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
2 March 1966 – New Victoria Cinema (audition) (Brian Long research)
3 March 1966 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensingston, west London (Brian Long research)
5 March 1966 – Harrow County School, Harrow, northwest London (Brian Long research)
8 March 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
9 March 1966 – USAF Chicksands, Chicksands, Bedfordshire (Brian Long research)
10 March 1966 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, west London (Brian Long research)
11 March 1966 – Copdock House Hotel (possibly Ipswich), Suffolk (Brian Long research)
12 March 1966 – London School of Economics, Aldwych, central London (Brian Long research)
15 March 1966 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex (Brian Long research)
17 March 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
19 March 1966 – Winter Gardens, Banbury, Oxfordshire with The Road Knights and The Frenzies (Brian Long research/Brackley Advertiser)
22 March 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
24 March 1966 – Nottingham Palais, Nottingham (Melody Maker)
25 March 1966 – Royal Forest Hotel, Chingford, east London (Brian Long research)
26 March 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Melody Maker)
27 March 1966 – Windy City Club, Oxford, Oxfordshire (Melody Maker)
29 March 1966 – Overseas Club, Earl’s Court, west London (Melody Maker)
1 April 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (audition) (Brian Long research)
2 April 1966 – Peterborough Nurses’ Home, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Brian Long research)
3 April 1966 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset (Melody Maker)
5 April 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
8 April 1966 – Recording session (Brian Long research)
12 April 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
16 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Brian Long research)
18 April 1966 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Brian Long research)
19 April 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
20 April 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Brian Long research)
21 April 1966 – Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair, central London (Brian Long research)
22 April 1966 – USAF Welford, Welford, Northamptonshire (Brian Long research)
23 April 1966 – USAF Alconbury, Alconbury, Cambridgeshire (Brian Long research)
26 April 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
27 April 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Brian Long research)
28 April 1966 – RAF Abingdon, Abingdon, Oxfordshire (Brian Long research)
29 April 1966 – Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (Brian Long research)
The Middlesex Chronicle (Hounslow Edition) on 29 April 1966, page 3 has an article on band
30 April 1966 – Ilkestone Palais, Ilkestone, Derbyshire (Brian Long research)
3 May 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
7 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Brian Long research)
10 May 1966 – Ready Steady Radio (Tiles, Oxford Street, central London) (Broadcast 22 May) (Brian Long research)
12 May 1966 – Nottingham Palais, Nottingham (Brian Long research)
13 May 1966 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The Tea Set and Children of The Damned (Brian Long research/East Kent Times)
17 May 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
19 May 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Brian Long research)
20 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go (TV) (Brian Long research)
21 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Brian Long research)
21 May 1966 – RAF Wittering, Wittering, West Sussex (Brian Long research)
23 May 1966 – BBC audition, Piccadilly, central London (Brian Long research)
24 May 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
26 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Brian Long research)
27 May 1966 – Co-Op Hall, Gravesend, Kent (Brian Long research)
28 May 1966 – Recording session (Brian Long research)
1 June 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
3 June 1966 – Roya Forest Hotel, Chingford, east London (Brian Long research)
4 June 1966 – Winter Gardens, Banbury, Oxfordshire with The Lazyways (Brian Long research/Brackley Advertiser)
7 June 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
9 June 1966 – RAF Bicester, Bicester, Oxfordshire (Brian Long research)
Image may be subject to copyright
10 June 1966 – Winter Garden, Eastbourne, East Sussex with The Shades (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
16 June 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
17 June 1966 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with Sands and Steve & The Corvettes (Brian Long research/East Kent Times)
18 June 1966 – Lloyds Bank, Beckenham, south London (Brian Long research)
19 June 1966 – Brands Hatch, West Kingsdown, Kent (Brian Long research)
21 June 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
23 June 1966 – RAF Tangmere, Chichester, West Sussex (Brian Long research)
25 June 1966 – Battersea Park, Battersea, south London (Brian Long research)
26 June 1966 – USAF Alconbury, Alconbury, Cambridgeshire (Brian Long research)
28 June 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
30 July 1966 – Grand Hotel, Brighton, West Sussex (Brian Long research)
1 August 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
3 August 1966 – Recording session for Pye (Brian Long research)
4 August 1966 – Nottingham Palais, Nottingham (Brian Long research)
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5 August 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Berkhamsted Gazette & Tring and District News)
6 August 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London (Brian Long research)
8 August 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
12 August 1966 – Coronation Hall, Ramsgate, Kent (Brian Long research)
13 August 1966 – Coventry Air Pageant, Coventry, West Midlands (Brian Long research)
15 August 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
18 August 1966 – Wakefield Locarno, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Brian Long research)
25 August 1966 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London (Brian Long research)
27 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Agents (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) (According to Brian Long, show broadcast 5 September)
29 August 1966 – Overseas Visitors Club, Earls Court, west London (Brian Long research)
30 August 1966 – Ready Steady Radio at Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Brian Long research)
31 August 1966 – Pickwick Club, central London (audition) (Brian Long research)
3 September 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London (Brian Long research)
9 September 1966 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Brian Long)
9 September 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Brian Long)
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12 September 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Tom Jones & The Squires (Berkhamsted Gazette & Tring and District News)
15 September 1966 – RAF Tangmere, Chichester, West Sussex (Brian Long)
16 September 1966 – Co-op Hall, Gravesend, Kent (Brian Long)
17 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Good Goods (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo: Hillingdon Mirror. Image may be subject to copyright
The Hillingdon Mirror ran a picture of the band in its 20 September 1966 issue, page 20
23 September 1966 – Recording session at Pye (Brian Long research)
25 September 1966 – Brands Hatch, Kingsdown, Kent (Brian Long research)
27 September 1966 – Finsbury Park Astoria, Finsbury Park, north London with Dusty Springfield & The Echoes, Boz and His People, The Settlers, The Alan Price Set, The Mindbenders and Dave Berry (Brian Long research) This is the start of The Dusty Springfield tour
28 September 1966 – Bournemouth Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Dusty Springfield & The Echoes, The Alan Price Set, The Settlers, Dave Berry, David and Jonathan, Boz & His Group and Jeff Lenner (Brian Long research/website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)
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29 September 1966 – Odeon, Cheltenham with Dusty Springfield, Alan Price Set, Boz & His Group, The Settlers, The Echoes and Los Bravos (Gloucester Citizen)
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30 September 1966 – Birmingham Odeon, Birmingham, West Midlands with Dusty Springfield, The Alan Price Set, Boz & His Group, The Settlers, The Echoes and Los Bravos (Brian Long research/Birmingham Evening Mail/Express & Star)
1 October 1966 – Cardiff Capitol, Cardiff, Wales (Brian Long research)
2 October 1966 – Colston Hall, Bristol (Brian Long research)
3 October 1966 – Manchester Odeon, Manchester (Brian Long research)
4 October 1966 – Newcastle Odeon, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Brian Long research)
5 October 1966 – Liverpool Odeon, Liverpool (Brian Long research)
6 October 1966 – Hanley Gaumont, Hanley, Staffordshire (Brian Long research)
7 October 1966 – Sheffield Gaumount, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Brian Long research)
8 October 1966 – Leicester gig (Brian Long research)
9 October 1966 – Woburn Abbey gig, Buckinghamshire (Brian Long research)
11 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
15 October 1966 – Harrow County School, Harrow, northwest London with Five’s Company (Brian Long research/Harrow Observer)
18 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
20 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (audition) (Brian Long research)
25 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
28 October 1966 – Witchdoctor Club, Catford, southeast London (Brian Long research)
29 October 1966 – University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent (Brian Long research)
1 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spencer Davis Group (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
4 November 1966 – Beckenham Ballroom, Beckenham, south London (Brian Long research)
5 November 1966 – Wimbledon Stadium, Wimbledon, southwest London (Brian Long research)
11 November 1966 – Witchdoctor Club, Catford, southeast London (Brian Long research)
12 November 1966 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk (Brian Long research)
13-14 November 1966 – Trip to the Netherlands around this time (Disc & Music Echo)
15 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
17 November 1966 – RAF Tangmere, Chichester, West Sussex (Brian Long research)
21 November 1966 – Recording session at Pye (Brian Long research)
22 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
23 November 1966 – ‘Swingalong’ recording at BBC (Brian Long research)
25 November 1966 – Recording session at Pye (Brian Long research)
25 November 1966 – Solvatorian College, Harrow Weald, northwest London (Brian Long research)
The Hounslow Post from 25 November 1966, page 6 has an article and picture on the band
26 November 1966 – Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales (most likely Royal Lido Ballroom) (Brian Long research)
28 November 1966 – ‘Monday Monday’ at the BBC (Brian Long research)
30 November 1966 – Fly to Beirut, Lebanon (Disc & Music Echo) This was on Roger Glover’s birthday
1-31 December 1966 – Casino du Liban, Beirut, Lebanon (Brian Long research)
1967
Image may be subject to copyright
11 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Soul’s Incorporated (Melody Maker/Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)
22 February 1967 – Kingsway Theatre, Hadleigh, Essex with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Cat Stevens, The Style and The Machine
Image may be subject to copyright
2 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Herd (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
3 March 1967 – Exeter University, Exeter, Devon (Fabulous 208)
4 March 1967 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)
17 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
13 April 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jon (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 April 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Dilemma (West Surrey Advertiser)
Image may be subject to copyright
6 May 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with supporting group (South East London Mercury)
23 May 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Paul Kaye (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
28 May 1967 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Spectrum (Hertfordshire Express)
13 June 1967 – Clapham Common, Clapham, London (Disc & Music Echo) Start of open air gigs
18 June 1967 – Brands Hatch Radio London Motor Racing and Pop Festival, Brands Hatch, Kent with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch and Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
Image may be subject to copyright
1 July 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with supporting group (South East London Mercury)
8 July 1967 – Ashton Palais, Ashton-under-Lyme, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
12 July 1967 – Victoria Rooms, Bristol with Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas (Fabulous 208)
15 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London (Fabulous 208)
16 July 1967 – Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, central London (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
21 July 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Hayes Gazette/Hillingdon and Uxbridge Weekly Post)
Image may be subject to copyright
29 July 1967 – Embassy, Colchester, Essex with The Reaction (Essex County Standard)
The Hillingdon Mirror ran a colour picture in its 8 August 1967 issue, page 9 (see below)
Photo: Hillingdon Mirror. Image may be subject to copyright
12 August 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with supporting group (South East London Mercury)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 August 1967 – Big Beat Cruise, Solent, South Parade Pier, Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head with The Wrong Direction (Portsmouth News)
18 August 1967 – Diss Corn Hall, Diss, Norfolk with The Wild Oats (Thetford Times)
Portsmouth News has a photo of the band in its 10 August 1967 issue, page 10 (see below)
Image may be subject to copyright
Disc & Music Echo’s 26 August issue notes that the group are keen to sign Dick Allix from The Gnomes of Zurich to replace drummer Harvey Shields. Instead, they end up recruiting John Kerrison.
Episode Six before John Kerrison joined. Fabulous 208, August 1967. Image may be subject to copyright
1 September 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Hayes Gazette/Hillingdon and Uxbridge Weekly Post)
2 September 1967 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Kanda Grays and Arthur’s Ltd (Warrington Guardian)
Image may be subject to copyright
9 September 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Summer Set (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
7 October 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire with Friday’s Mind (Evening Post: Hemel Hempstead)
9 October 1967 – Ready Steady Go Club, Kings Arms Hotel, Berkhamstead, Herts (Berkhamstead Gazette, Tring & District News)
21 October 1967 – City University, central London with The Action (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
28 October 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with Bobby King & The Sabres (South East London Mercury)
13 April 1968 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Embers (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
6 May 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday) This seems very unlikely considering the gig below
Image may be subject to copyright
6 May 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Illinois Press (Cornish Guardian)
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1 June 1968 – Elms Court Ballroom, Botley, Oxford with Pepper Pot (Oxford Mail) Billed as The Episode
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2 June 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Rainbow Reflection (Hastings & St Leonards Observer)
10 June 1968 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Move and Circus (Surrey Advertiser)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 June 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
12 July 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Thames Valley Times)
Image may be subject to copyright
14 July 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex (with supporting programme) (Hastings & St Leonards Observer)
20 July 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Glenroy Oakley & The Oracles and Lyte ‘N’ Eze (Essex County Standard)
27 July 1968 – The Barn Ballroom, Little Bardfield Hall, Little Bardfield, Essex (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
Fabulous 208 from 17 August 1968 announces Mick Underwood as John Kerrison’s replacement
Episode Six with Mick Underwood (bottom left). Image may be subject to copyright
30 August 1968 – Tigers Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
15 September 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)
9 October 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with Disturbance and Dave the Rave (Somerset County Gazette) Billed as The Episode
19 October 1968 – University College, Gower Street, W1, central London with Proteus (Melody Maker)
20 October 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Uxbridge Weekly Post) Replaced by Tremeloes
Image may be subject to copyright
15 November 1968 – Brunel University, Acton, west London with Timebox (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 November 1968 – Centre 185, Egham, Surrey with Five & a Penny (Staines & Egham News)
11 December 1968 – De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex with The Red Squares and The Motion (Hastings & St Leonards Observer)
14 December 1968 – Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock, Devon with Blitz (Western Evening Herald)
31 December 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Lloyd (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
1969
24 January 1969 – Tigers Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
1 April 1969 – The Clock House, Watford, Hertfordshire with Billy Davis (Uxbridge Weekly Post)
Image may be subject to copyright
26 April 1969 – Kingston College of Technology, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London with Orange Rainbow (Melody Maker)
11 May 1969 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)
In mid-June Ian Gillian and Roger Glover left to join Deep Purple
21 June 1969 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with Tanglewood (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
27 June 1969 – Pop Supershow, RAE Assembly Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire with Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation, Locomotive and Ten Percent Butter (Aldershot News)
10 October 1969 – Northern Polytechnic, Holloway, north London with Steamhammer (Time Out) Melody Maker says it was Battered Ornaments
22 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
First lineup, circa early 1961, from left: Roger Bluck, Frankie Reid, John Donald, Pete Stretch and Danny McCulloch
Originally published November, 2010, revised June 2012
From Ealing in West London, R&B band Frankie Reid & The Casuals were notable for containing several musicians that went on to fame and fortune in later years.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #1 (Late 1960)
Frankie Reid – vocals Mick Cosgrave – lead guitar (replaced before first gig) John Donald – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mick Revelle – drums (replaced by Peter Stretch early on)
Born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Frankie Reid and his brother Ralph started performing in 1957 as the Reid Brothers. In February 1960, they moved to London and in their first week in the capital entered and won a talent contest, held at the Shepherd’s Bush Hotel.
In September, Frankie Reid was introduced to the manager of the Kew Boathouse in Kew, Middlesex, who hired him to sing at the club with the three resident bands – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Pat Creswell & The Crescents and Ray & The Riversiders. Signed up for six months, he performed six songs a night, split between each band.
Turning down an offer to play another six months at the Kew Boathouse, Reid chose instead to form his own group. Hearing about The Casuals who needed a new singer after Tony Craven had left; Reid met the musicians – John Donald, Mick Cosgrave, Danny McCullough and Mick Revelle – at a rehearsal hall in Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush.
Originally known as The Avro Boys, who had won a talent contest at the Gaumont in Shepherd’s Bush, the group appeared in a BBC documentary on how the guitar had taken over from the piano in the home. Produced by Ken Russell, “Guitar Craze – From Spain to Streatham” was screened on BBC TV’s “Monitor”, presented by Huw Weldon. Soon afterwards, the group linked up with singer Tony Craven and became Tony Craven & The Casuals.
Not long after Frankie Reid had joined forces with The Casuals, the band took on Bill Dunton as their manager. Dunton sold his Ford Zodiac/Zephyr to buy a van, which was painted with the band’s name and the individual group members’ names on the side.
Despite rehearsing about 60 songs, Mick Cosgrave left before a single gig and Roger Black (aka Bluck) took over on lead guitar. Soon after, Peter Stretch came in for Mick Revelle.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #2 (Late 1960-late 1961)
Frankie Reid – vocals Roger Bluck – lead guitar John Donald – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Peter Stretch – drums
One of the group’s earliest gigs was at the Pitshanger Lane Youth Club. The second line up also played at Battersea Town Hall and was regulars at the Brixton Maccabi Jewish club, St Mary’s Hall in Putney, the White Hart in Southall, Middlesex and the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote, Middlesex.
Sometime in late 1961, Peter Stretch left and a very young Mitch Mitchell took over. Originally from Ealing, Mitchell had taken drum lessons at Jim Marshall’s shop and was recommended to Reid by Marshall. Mitchell had briefly worked with The Crescents before joining The Casuals.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #3 (Late 1961-spring 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Roger Bluck – lead guitar John Donald – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mitch Mitchell – drums
In early 1962, Roger Bluck, who worked at EMI as a record cover designer, got the opportunity to do some session work backing a pianist on an instrumental single and called the other Casuals to see if they could participate. Unfortunately, only Donald could make it and subsequently the session was cancelled.
A few months later both Donald and Bluck departed. While Donald would join Brian Connell & The Countdowns for about six months in 1963, Bluck would go on to become a member of David Bowie’s early group Davey Jones & The King Bees in November 1963. From there, he went on to play with The Spectrum from 1964-1968. Ian Holland came in on lead guitar and the band continued as a four-piece.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #4 (spring 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mitch Mitchell – drums
The new line up played gigs at St Mary’s Hall, Putney, the Ealing Club, Acton Town Hall, Ealing Town Hall, Wembley Town Hall, the White Hart in Southall, Middlesex and Southall Community Centre.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #5 (May-circa July 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Brian Mansell – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mitch Mitchell – drums
Brian Mansell, a rhythm guitarist from Whitton, Middlesex had been playing with Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers, who changed name to The Condors in April 1962 for one tour. When the band’s guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left to join Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Condors split and Mansell got a job with Frankie Reid & The Casuals. Soon after he joined, Mansell lobbied for his former band mate, Terry Mabey, to take over from Mitch Mitchell.
Mitchell was given his marching orders and joined Peter Nelson & The Travellers with lead singer Pete Nelson, bass player Tony Ross, rhythm guitarist Tony Hall and lead guitarist Vic Briggs (who years later joined Eric Burdon & The New Animals). In subsequent years, Mitchell played with Johnny Harris & The Shades, The Soul Messengers, The Next 5, The Riot Squad and Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames before ultimately finding fame and fortune with The Jimi Hendrix Experience in September 1966.
Notable gigs:
26 May 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
27 May 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
31 May 1962 – Gifford School, Northolt, Middlesex
2 June 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
9 June 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
11 June 1962 – Boathouse, Kew, Surrey
14 June 1962 – Hatfield College (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
15 June 1962 – Poplar Town Hall, Poplar, London
16 June 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
17 June 1962 – Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
18 June 1962 – Howard Hall, Ponders End, Enfield
22 June 1962 – Poplar Town Hall, Poplar, London
23 June 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
25 June 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
26 June 1962 – Roxeth School, South Harrow, Middlesex
29 June 1962 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon
30 June 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
2 July 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
6 July 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
7 July 1962 – Atheneon, Muswell Hill, London
8 July 1962 – Irish club, Cricklewood, Middlesex
13 July 1962 – Woking (Atlanta Ballroom?), Surrey
14 July 1962 – Royal Oak, Dagenham, Essex
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #6 (Circa July-September 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Brian Mansell – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Terry Mabey – drums
Having only joined the band a few months earlier, Brian Mansell handed in his notice at the end of September and dropped out of the music scene for several years, returning in 1966 with Sunbury, Middlesex band, The Missing Links.
The following year, he joined The All Night Workers and stuck with this group until 1969.
When Mabey wasn’t well enough to perform, Derek Sirmon, who had attended Kneller school in Twickenham, Middlesex with Brian Mansell and Terry Mabey, filled in on drums.
Notable gigs:
19 July 1962 – Hatfield College, (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
20 July 1962 – Hendon, Middlesex
21 July 1962 – Stanwell, Middlesex (afternoon)
21 July 1962 – Atheneon, Muswell Hill (afternoon)
22 July 1962 – Irish club, Cricklewood, Middlesex
24 July 1962 – Park Ballroom, Southampton, Hants
25 July 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
27 July 1962 – Crayford Town Hall, Crayford, Kent
28 July 1962 – Tiptree, Essex
29 July 1962 – Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
1 August 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
3 August 1962 – Hendon, Middlesex
4 August 1962 – Botwell Club, Hayes, Middlesex
9 August 1962 – Hatfield (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
10 August 1962 – Woking (Atlanta Ballroom?), Surrey
11 August 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
15 August 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
17 August 1962 – Winchester, Hants
18 August 1962 – St Mary’s Ballroom, Putney, Surrey
19 August 1962 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex
22 August 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
24 August 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
25 August 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
31 August 1962 – Park Ballroom, Middlesex
1 September 1962 – Botwell Club, Hayes, Middlesex
5 September 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
7 September 1962 – Finchley, Middlesex
9 September 1962 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
14 September 1962 – Dormers Pioneer Club, Southall, Middlesex
15 September 1962 – St Mary’s Ballroom, Putney, Surrey
16 September 1962 – Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
22 September 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
28 September 1962 – Crayford Town Hall, Crayford, Kent
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #7 (October 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Terry Mabey or Derek Sirmon – drums
Reduced to a four-piece, this was another short-lived line up of Frankie Reid & The Casuals.
In October 1962, Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch left to join Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #8 (October 1962-circa February 1963)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Steve Hargreaves – bass Terry Mabey – drums (replaced by Bill Dunton)
This was yet another short-lived line up of the band. In early 1963, Terry Mabey left to join Ealing band, James Royal & The Hawks.
Bill Dunton took over the drums for a while but didn’t stay long.
Notable gigs:
21 January 1963 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex (the band plays every Monday)
28 January 1963 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex (the band plays every Monday)
Photo: Surrey Advertiser
2-3 February 1963 – Plaza, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
Ealing Town Hall, early 1963, from left: Ian Holland, Frankie Reid and Steve Hargreaves with John Kerrison at back
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #9 (Circa February-April 1963)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Chris Jackson – rhythm guitar Steve Hargreaves – bass John Kerrison – drums
John Kerrison attended Mellow Lane in Hayes in Middlesex where Keith Grant of The Downliners Sect also went to school.
At the age of 14, Kerrison played with The Cossacks from Greenford, Middlesex. The group’s line up also included Keith Lewis (lead guitar/vocals) and Merv Lewis (bass).
From there, he hooked up with Paul & The Alpines, featuring Paul Lonergan (vocals); Ray Kirkham (lead guitar); Dave Dove (bass) and Alf Fripp (rhythm guitar).
Managed by Sid Foreman, the band worked quite a bit for the Roy Tempest Agency. It was while he was drumming with this band that Kerrison got the call to audition for Frankie Reid & The Casuals at the Viaduct Pub in Hanwell, Middlesex after Bill Dunton left.
Soon after he joined, the band reverted to a five-piece by adding Chris Jackson on rhythm guitar.
Ian Holland and Steve Hargreaves both left in spring 1963, although Hargreaves would re-join Frankie Reid in later years in his group, The Powerhouse.
Ian Holland (sometimes known as Hollands) went to record with The Legends and also played with The Magic Roundabout.
Notable gigs:
25 March 1963 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey
Botwell House, Hayes, Middlesex (late 1963), from left: Chris Jackson, Reg Bodman, Frankie Reid, John Kerrison and Mick Liber. Thank you to John Kerrison for the use of the photo.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #10 (Circa April 1963-December 1964)
Frankie Reid – vocals Mick Liber – lead guitar Reg Bodman – bass Chris Jackson – rhythm guitar John Kerrison – drums
Scots-born lead guitarist Mick Liber’s first notable band was Ealing group Clay Alison & The Searchers led by guitarist and future lawyer, Andre de Moller.
Liber was also friends with Pete Townshend, who had rented a flat off Liber’s dad in Sunnyside Road in Ealing during his time at Ealing Art College, and taught Liber how to play feedback.
Originally from Peckham in south London, Reg Bodman had started out in 1960 with local band, The Talismen, which included drummer Al Alison from Emile Ford & The Checkmates for a while.
When Frankie Reid & The Casuals broke up in the December 1964, John Kerrison joined The Rocking Eccentrics and then went on to work with The Horizons, The Dae-b-Four, The New Pirates, Episode Six and The Beachcombers.
Reg Bodman filled in for a number of bands around the Ealing area, including The Ealing Redcaps, The Pirates and Morgan James before joining a soul band in Southeast London called The Sassenachs, who played top Soho clubs like the Flamingo and the Marquee.
After playing with this band for over ten years, Bodman relocated to Kent and worked with the blues band TwoSixNine. He then went on to work with a soul band in Dorset (where he currently lives) called Soul Intention.
Mick Liber had guested with Ealing group, The Unit 4 led by his friend Frank Kennington from mid-1964.
The pair reunited in Sydney, Australia in January 1965 and formed a new (Australian) version of Unit 4 (see pic below).
Photo may be subject to copyright: Frank Kennington (second left) and Mick Liber (far right). Unit 4 in Sydney, Australia 1965.
They also worked together in The Denvermen before forming the original Python Lee Jackson in Sydney, Australia in December 1965.
Liber returned to the UK with a new version of Python Lee Jackson in October 1968 and subsequently reunited with Frankie Reid (see below).
Frankie Reid dropped out of the music scene briefly before returning in 1968 with a new band, The Powerhouse, which he led until 1974.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals at Botwell House, 1964. Thank you to Frankie Reid for use of the photo.
Notable gigs:
23 May 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
13 June 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (Thursday)
20 June 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (Thursday)
30 July 1963 – Top Twenty Nite Club, Swindon, Wiltshire
9 February 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
11 April 1964 – Rock Stars, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Sounds Five (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)
20 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday) (Billed as The Casuals)
27 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday) (Billed as The Casuals)
18 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
25 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
30 June 1964 – Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex with Mark Leemen Five (billed Frankie Reed & The Casuals)
2 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
9 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
16 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
23 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
25 July 1964 – “The Cavern” at the West Cliff Hall (near Ramsgate), Kent with The Satans
30 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
17 September 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday) (special guest Jimmy Royal)
Photo: Harrow Observer & Gazette
24 September 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (Thursday)
25 September 1964 – Lynx Club, Borehamwood, Herts with The Fenmen (Simon Gee research – see comments section below)
26 November 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Second Thoughts
28 November 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Applejacks
29 November 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford
The original Powerhouse in 1968/1969 from left: Steve Hargreaves, Peter Abbot and Frankie ReidThe original Powerhouse in 1968/1969 from left: Steve Hargreaves (obscured, on bass), Peter Abbot, Frankie Reid and Mick Liber
Frankie Reid & The Powerhouse (1968-1969)
Frankie Reid – lead vocals Mick Liber – lead guitar Steve Hargreaves – bass Peter Abbot – drums
Frankie Reid returned to the West London live scene with The Powerhouse, featuring former Casuals bass player Steve Hargreaves.
After arriving back in England from Australia in late 1968, Liber reunited with his old band leader.
In 1969, the latest version of Python Lee Jackson, which included drummer David Montgomery, recorded the classic “In A Broken Dream” with Rod Stewart.
In 1970, Liber introduced Montgomery, keyboard player David Bentley and former Easybeats drummer Tony Cahill, who was now playing bass, all current members of the UK-based Python Lee Jackson, to the latest line up of Frankie Reid’s Powerhouse. The second incarnation recorded some material that remains unreleased.
The 1970 Powerhouse, photo courtesy of Frankie Reid, From left: Tony Cahill, Dave Montgomery (on drums, obscured), Frankie Reid and Mick LiberFrom left: Frankie Reid, Tony Cahill, Dave Montgomery and Mick Liber. Photo courtesy of Frankie Reid
Frankie Reid & The Powerhouse (1970)
Frankie Reid – lead vocals Mick Liber – lead guitar David Bentley – organ Tony Cahill – bass David Montgomery – drums
(Early-mid 1970s) John Hawken – piano Neil Korner – bass
While working with The Powerhouse, Liber also toured and recorded with Ashton, Gardner & Dyke. Together with Bentley, Cahill and Montgomery, he continued to record with Python Lee Jackson, and later did studio work with Third World War and live work with Thunderclap Newman. In 1973, Liber returned to Australia and continued to perform with a number of artists, most notably Dana Gillespie and Blerta.
After The Powerhouse split up in 1974, Frankie Reid formed The Frankie Reid Band. In 1978, he formed Flying Fox with drum legend Carlo Little and bass player Nick Simper, best known for being an original member of Deep Purple. In November 1979, however, he emigrated to Australia and currently lives in Perth.
Many people helped piece this story together. Thanks to Frankie Reid, particularly for the use of photos/images.
Thanks to Brian Mansell for the list of concert dates from May-September 1962, which were taken from his diary.
I’d also like to credit John Kerrison, Mick Liber, John Donald, Colin Reece, Nick Simper, Reg Bodman and Terry Mabey for their invaluable input.
Concert dates were also taken from several newspapers, including the Ampthill News & Weekly Record, East Kent Times & Mail, Harrow Observer, Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, the Middlesex Chronicle (Hounslow Edition), Surrey Comet and Swindon Evening Advertiser.
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.
The Eccentrics, 1965, back row, from left: John Kerrison, Bruce Watts (sitting) and Mick Liddell (sunglasses) Front row, left to right: Roy Robinson and Peter Maggs
Mick Liddell – vocals Peter Maggs – lead guitar Roy Robinson – bass Bruce Watts – rhythm guitar John Kerrison – drums
Middlesex County Times and Gazette, May 1965
Originally called The Henchmen, this Ealing group included lead singer Dave Kaye (real name: Dave Tregwin), bass player Roy Robinson, rhythm guitarist Bruce Watts and drummer Clive Buckie, who had played alongside Ritchie Blackmore in The Dominators.
In 1962, Peter Maggs, who’d been a very early member of The Downliners with Don Craine from 1959-1962, took over lead guitar.
Mick Liddell replaced Dave Kaye on lead vocals in mid-1964 and the group changed name to The Rockin’ Eccentrics. In late November/early December, John Kerrison from Frankie Reid & The Casuals took over from Clive Buckie.
Eccentrics Pye promo for “What You Got”Sometime around April-May 1965, they shortened the name to The Eccentrics and recorded a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s “What You Got” backed by “Fe Fi Fo Fum” for Pye Records. After playing the UK scene, The Eccentrics were allegedly the first British band to pass an audition for the famous Piper Club in Rome.
Travelling to ‘Italy, The Eccentrics played the Rome club in June 1965 and later returned to Italy.
At the Piper Club, Rome, June 1965. Photo may be subject to copyright
During July Kerrison left to return to the UK and was replaced by John “Speedy” Keen from Ealing band, The Second Thoughts. Keen, of course, later went on to found Thunderclap Newman.
Liddell also left at this point and the remaining members brought in singer Romano Morandi (ex-Equipe Ottanta Quattro) and played gigs in northern Italy before returning to the UK in January 1966 and disbanding. Liddell meanwhile put together a new band called Gli Atomi, who recorded a number of singles in 1965-1966.
Back in England, John Kerrison joined Slough-based band The Horizons with singer Rod Evans, lead guitarist Colin Butt and bass player Len Hawkes.
Evans would later become lead singer with Deep Purple after working with The Maze while Hawkes would join The Tremeloes after playing with Davey Sands & The Essex.
The Horizons had work lined up in Berlin during August-September 1965 and played gigs for a few months after which Kerrison returned to the UK. In October 1965, he joined Hounslow favourites The Dae-b-Four.
Kerrison would later reunite with Mick Liddell in Italy for a one-off recording during 1966.
John Kerrison (far left) reunited with Mick Liddell in Italy in 1966
However, in February 1967, he joined The New Pirates alongside lead guitarist Mick Stewart, bass player Nick Simper and keyboard player Johnny Carroll.
By the summer, however, the band had split and Kerrison worked with Episode Six and then The Beachcombers (Keith Moon’s early 1960s band).
Notable gigs (as The Rockin’ Eccentrics unless noted)
30 November 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday) (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
