Tag Archives: Mark Leeman Five

Categories: Country, England, Jamaica, London

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

March 31, 2019 Nick Warburton 3 Comments

Image may be subject to copyright. Left to right: Carl Noel, Wallace Wilson, Phil Chen, Jimmy James, Carl Griffiths, Count Prince Miller and Rupert Balgobin. Photo shows line-up in late 1965

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Coleson Chen – bass

Carl Noel – keyboards

Carl Griffiths – tenor sax

Rupert Balgobin – percussion

Winston Martin – drums

Born on 13 September 1940 in the United States, Jimmy James moved to Jamaica in the mid-1940s and joined The Vagabonds in 1964 after recording solo singles. The Vagabonds had been formed in 1961 by Count Prince Miller, Coleson Chen and Wallace Wilson with other musicians, who were gradually replaced with the line-up above.

The musicians relocated to London in May 1964 with Chen’s younger brother Phil guesting on second guitar and initially they played at parties and social functions. This formation recorded The Vagabonds LP.

Soon after, Winston Martin left and Rupert Balgobin took over drums and Phil Chen became a permanent member.

Attracting the attention of manager Pete Meaden, who’d discovered The Who, the group landed a month-long residency at the Scene in March 1965. In mid-1965 Coleson Chen returned to Jamaica and his brother Phil moved on to bass.

Selected gigs

20 November 1964 – Kilburn State Ballroom, Kilburn, London with Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers and Dixieland Steel Band (billed as The Jamaican Vagabonds)

18 March 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (billed as The Vagabonds)

30 April 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

9 May 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London with The Spencer Davis Group

18 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

22 May 1965 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire

28 May 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

31 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

7 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Who

12 June 1965 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks

13 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Woburn Park Hotel, Addlestone, Surrey

14 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Solomon Burke

17 June 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds were featured in an article in the Staines and Egham News (18/6/65, page 10)

19 June 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (billed as The Vagabonds)

21 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

26 June 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire

28 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

1 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

2 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

5 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Animals

9 July 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

10 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

12 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

13 July 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London with The Brian Auger Trinity

14 July 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (billed as The Vagabonds)

19 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Manfred Mann

25 July 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

26 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The VIPs

29 July 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

31 July 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Under Pete Meaden’s management, the band’s debut single on Columbia, “Shoo Be Doo (You’re Mine)” c/w “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” was released in August 1965 but was not a chart success. They then moved to Piccadilly for seven singles, starting with “I Feel Alright” c/w “I Wanna Be Your Everything” in February 1966.

Despite not cracking the singles’ chart, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds became regulars at the Marquee and built up a huge following on the nationwide club circuit where they were regarded as one of the most dynamic live acts.

Selected gigs

2 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

9 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

12 August 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

13 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

16 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz and The Boz People

21 August 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire (Billed as The Vagabonds with Jimmy James and Count Prince Miller)

23 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

27 August 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

30 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs

2 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

6 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Crowd

9 September 1965 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

13 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

17 September 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

20 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Sidewinders

22 September 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset

23 September 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as Vagabonds)

27 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

1 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

4 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Boz & The Boz People

6 October 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with Dave Antony’s Moods

11 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Uglys

13 October 1965 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire

14 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

18 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

21 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Action and Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Dave Allen research)

24 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans

25 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Lee’s Groundhogs

29 October 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

1 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo

4 November 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (billed as The Vagabonds)

6 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

8 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Banshees

9 November 1965 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol

15 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Train (Moon’s Train?)

17 November 1965 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset

18 November 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

22 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

27 November 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire

29 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

4 December 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire with Mike Cotton Sound

6 December 1965 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire wit Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, Goldie (of the Gingerbreads), Shangaans, The Mark Leeman Five and Gary Farr & The T-Bones

10 December 1965 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

12 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

13 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Roscoe Brown Combo

15 December 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (billed as The Vagabonds)

19 December 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Blaizes

20 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

Around this time Carl Griffiths returned to Jamaica but later came back to the UK with singer Prince Buster. He also worked with Cat Soul Packet in September-November 1967 before joining The Bees who became The Pyramids. Griffiths later worked with Manfred Mann Chapter 3

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds now comprises:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Phil Chen – bass

Carl Noel – keyboards

Rupert Balgobin – drums

Selected gigs

9 January 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

10 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

14 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

15 January 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire

17 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

23 January 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham

24 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

25 January 1966 – Bristol Chinese R&B Club, Corn Exchange, Bristol

27 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Drifters

31 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London

5 February 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire

6 February 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London (on one occasion they were joined by John Brown’s Bodies, so maybe this date)

8 February 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

12 February 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

14 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Mark Leeman Five

20 February 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

21 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five

19 February 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers and The Blueberries (with “Count Prince Miller”)

26 February 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (with “Count Prince Miller”)

3 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho,central London with The Summer Set

15 March 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)

18 March 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex

20 March 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with Rocky & The Emperors

21 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Boz “And New Group”

26 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Goodtime Band (billed as The Vagabonds)

28 March 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk

30 March 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

31 March 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey

Around this time former Rupert & The Red Devils’ tenor sax player Fred “Nat” Frederick joins. Frederick may be the same Fred who had recently played with John Lee’s Groundhogs.

3 April 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support

4 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

6 April 1966 – Target Paul’s Row, High Wycombe, Bucks

8 April 1966 – Links R&B Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts with The Fairies (opening night) Melody Maker has The Action as second group

9 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

11 April 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Sonny Childe & The TNT and The Real McCoy

14 April 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire

17 April 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Alan Bown Set

19 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Vibrations

20 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

25 April 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey

28 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

29 April 1966 – York University, York

30 April 1966 – Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

The group releases its third 45, “Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum” c/w “Come To Me Softly”

1 May 1966 – Dereham Tavern, Dereham, Norfolk with The News

2 May 1966 – Rag Queen Dance, East Ham Town Hall, East Ham, east London with The Symbols

4 May 1966 – Highbury Technical College, Cosham

5 May 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire

6 May 1966 – Keele University, Keele

7 May 1966 – Manor Lodge, Stockport, Greater Manchester

8 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with The Deakin Lewis Band (billed as The Vagabonds)

9 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, Ipswich, Suffolk

11 May 1966 – College of Technology, Brighton, West Sussex

12 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Statesides (This is missing from Beat Instrumental unless this was moved to 16th)

13 May 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

14 May 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

15 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington

16 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

19 May 1966 – Starlight, Crawley, West Sussex

20 May 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London

21 May 1966 – St Martin’s School of Art, central London

22 May 1966 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry

23 May 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire and Concord Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hants

24 May 1966 – Concorde Club, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

27 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (possibly with John Brown’s Bodies) Trend & Boyfriend magazine has Links Ballroom, Borehamwood on this date as well

28 May 1966 – Gig in Islington, north London

29 May 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington

30 May 1966 – Blues Festival, East Dereham, Norfolk with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Sullivan James Band and Sounds Reformed. Beat Instrumental says this was the Tavern Club

3-5 June 1966 – Gigs in Ostend, Belgium

6 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

10 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

11 June 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

12 June 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

13 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

14 June 1966 – St John’s College, Cambridge

15 June 1966 – Blue Flame Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands and Casino Club, Walsall, West Midlands

16 June 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

17 June 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Bobby Gibson and Group 004

18 June 1966 – Commonwealth Institute, central London

19 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London

20 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

21 June 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (billed as The Vagabonds)

23 June 1966 – Birdcage, Porthsmouth, Hants

24 June 1966 – Gig in Exeter, Devon (probably university)

25 June 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

26 June 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

27 June 1966 – Wall City JC, Chester, Cheshire

28 June 1966 – American School, Hilton Hotel, central London

29 June 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire

30 June 1966 – Birmingham University, Birmingham

1 July 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough

2 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with Roy C, The League of Gentlemen, The Amboy Dukes and The Ferryboys

4 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

5 July 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

6 July 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

7 July 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

8 July 1966 – Masonic Hall, Hornchurch, east London

9 July 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester

10 July 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

11 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

12 July 1966 – Bristol University, Bristol

14 July 1966 – Bircage, Eastney, Hampshire

16 July 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London

17 July 1966 –White Lion, Edgware, north London

18 July 1966 – Shoreline Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

19 July 1966 – Manor House, north London (not mentioned in Beat Instrumental)

22 July 1966 –Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough

23 July 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

24 July 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington

The band releases its fourth 45 on Piccadilly “This Heart of Mine” c/w “I Don’t Wanna Cry”

29 July 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary Cray, southeast London

2 August 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Move

4 August 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

5 August 1966 – Beat ‘n’ Blues Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Better Days, The Kynd and The Reaction

6 August 1966 – Cadillac Club, Brighton, West Sussex

7 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

11 August 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

13 August 1966 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court Casino Ballroom, Hampton Court, Middlesex

14 August 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire

17 August 1966 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

18 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol with The Fanatics

21 August 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham

23 August 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

25 August 1966 – Astoria, Finsbury’s Park, north London with Sonny & Cher, Sharon Tandy & The VIPs

27 August 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London and Lyceum, central London

28 August 1966 – Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

29 August 1966 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

30 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Clayton Squares

31 August 1966 – Discoblue Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight

Baritone sax player Milton James, who has previously worked with Hogsnort Rupert, The Olympics and The Dynamics joins

2 September 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Him & Others

3 September 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

5 September 1966 – Wall City Jazz Club, Chester, Cheshire

8 September 1966 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

9 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

10 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London

13 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog

14 September 1966 – Ackys Scene, New Maid’s Head Hotel, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

16 September 1966 – Porchester Hall, Paddington, central London

17 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Leicester

18 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

20 September 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders, The Ferryboys

26 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, south London with Bluesology

27 September 1966 – Churchill Hall, Kenton, north London

1 October 1966 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London

2 October 1966 – Palais Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire

3 October 1966 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

4 October 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

6 October 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

9 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

11 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Episode Six

14 October 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts

15 October 1966 – International Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire

15 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

Melody Maker says the band went to Belgium to play gigs in Brussels and Ostend on 17 October. Is this possible for one day?

18 October 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks

19 October 1966 – Falcon Hotel, Eltham, southeast London

20 October 1966 – Concorde, Southampton with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

20 October 1966 – Wykeham Hall, Romford, east London

21 October 1966 – The Marquee Show, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Spencer Davis Group, The Move, Wynder K Frog, The Herd and The VIPs

22 October 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire

23 October 1966 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

25 October 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

26 October 1966 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End, east London

27 October 1966 – BRC R&B Club, Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire

28 October 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

29 October 1966 – Manchester University, Manchester

29 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester

30 October 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

The band releases its fifth 45 “Ain’t Love Good, Ain’t Love Proud” c/w “Don’t Know What I’m Gonna Do”

9 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts

10 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London

12 November 1966 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London

13 November 1966 – Youth Centre, Liverpool

16 November 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hampshire

18 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Summer Set

19 November 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

24 November 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford

26 November 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

27 November 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham

28 November 1966 – Top Rank Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

29 November 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

Around this time, the band releases its LP The New Religion

1 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton

2 December 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester

3-4 December 1966 – Maryland Club, Glasgow, Scotland

6 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn

9 December 1966 – Durham University, Durham with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

10 December 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Orlons, The Gates of Eden and The Ebonites

11 December 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

12 December 1966 – White Bicycle Club, Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Hip 100

13 December 1966 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

15 December 1966 – School of Art, Guildford, Surrey with The Alan Bown Set

16 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Unchained

17 December 1966 – Disco Club, Ryde, Isle of Wight

20 December 1966 – St Thomas, Brentwood, Essex

22 December 1966 – Southampton Guildhall, Hampshire with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

22 December 1966 – Ricky Tick, Corn Exchange, Bedford, Bedfordshire

23 December 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Hounslow, west London with The Summer Set

24 December 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

26 December 1966 – Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

27 December 1966 – Corn Exchange, Bristol

31 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Neat Change and The Bunch

The band releases its sixth 45 “I Can’t Get Home to My Baby” c/w “Hungry For Love”

1 January 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

2 January 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire

The Hillingdon Mirror ran an article and photos in its 3 January 1967 issue, page 20

4 January 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

7 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soul Sisters with The Tonic and Charades

8 January 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians

Around this time Milton James departs. Baritone sax player Pat Gravende (aka Pat Sandy) replaces him. Also, longstanding member Carl Noel departs and Tom Parker, who has previously played with The Groundhogs, The Mark Leeman Five and Eric Burdon’s New Animals takes his place

The line-up now comprises:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Phil Chen – bass

Tom Parker – keyboards

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax

Pat Sandy – baritone sax

Rupert Balgobin – drums

Selected gigs

27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

28 January 1967 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

29 January 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

31 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Syn

3 February 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire

4 February 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire

5 February 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts

6 February 1967 – Wall City Club, Chester, Cheshire

7 February 1967 – Manchester University, Manchester with Alan Bown and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

9 February 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

11 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool

17 February 1967 – Gyro Club, Troutbeck Hotel, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

19 February 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

20 February 1967 – Bluesville Club, Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

21 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire

24 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

25 February 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Eyes of Blonde and Ray Bones

25 February 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester

26 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

27 February 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

2 March 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Gordon Riots

3 March 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire

4 March 1967 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, London

5 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

5 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Hubbubs

7 March 1967 – Corn Exchange, Bristol

10 March 1967 – Phillipa Fawcett College, Streatham, London

11 March 1967 – Aquarium, Brighton, West Sussex

12 March 1967 – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpians

14 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog

15 March 1967 – The Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester with The Drifters

16 March 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

17 March 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham

18 March 1967 – Manchester College, Manchester

19 March 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

20 March 1967 – Assembly Hall, Stafford, Staffordshire

21 March 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire

24 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

25 March 1967 – Trade Union Hall, Watford, London

25 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire with The Alan Price Set

27 March 1967 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange with Family, Reformation and Rubber Band

28 March 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Bossmen

30 March 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fab 208 says 29 March)

31 March 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby, Humberside

1 April 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

2 April 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

4 April 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

13 April 1967 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

14 April 1967 – Brighton Arts Festival, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, West Sussex with Paul Jones, The Move, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Mike Stuart Span, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and others

15 April 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire

17 April 1967 – Bluesville Club, Ipswich, Suffolk

19 April 1967 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

20 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

21 April 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

22 April 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

24 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

26 April 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge

28 April 1967 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

29 April 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with Sons and Lovers

The band releases its seventh 45 on Piccadilly “No Need to Cry” c/w “You Showed Me The Way”

It’s possible that Carl Noel may have returned at this point to briefly replace his successor Tom Parker

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, France, May 1967. Photo © Odile Noël (www.odilenoel.com)

5 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The American Vibrations and The Hubbubs

6 May 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Fleur De Lys

7 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

8 May 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk

9 May 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

24 May 1967 – Purple Fez Club, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon

25 May 1967 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

25 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Wynder K Frog

27 May 1967 – Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Survivors

28 May 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners

29 May 1967 – Boulevard Gardens, Tadcaster, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes, Ellison’s Hog Line, The Screen, The Shotgun Express, Pete Lala Group and others

29 May 1967 – Crystal Bowl, Castleford, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole and The Echoes

The band in France, May 1967. Photo © Odile Noël (www.odilenoel.com)

1 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

3 June 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

4 June 1967 – The Place, Oldham, Greater Manchester

5 June 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

7 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Herts

8 June 1967 – Electric Garden, Covent Garden, London (Disc and Music Echo, 27 May issue, says the venue recently opened)

9 June 1967 – Matrix Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (with Mike Cotton Sound and The Big Jump Band?)

10 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

11 June 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London

14 June 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

15 June 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Life

17 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

17 June 1967 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

According to Melody Maker, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds played at The Shoreline in Bognor Regis and Jimmy James collapsed from exhaustion. The Derby gig was called but he was fit to do the Klooks Kleek gig

18 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (cancelled)

20 June 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

22 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

25 June 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Jude Brown Trust

26 June 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

28 June 1967 – Royal Pier, Mecca Ballroom, Southampton, Hampshire

29 June 1967 – Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Wales with The Fortunes

30 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Condors

1 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Triads, The Steps and Ray Bones

2 July 1967 – Spinning Disc Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire

3 July 1967 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Disc & Music Echo has this on 5 July)

3 July 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Bath

4 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Malvern, Worcestershire

7 July 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

7 July 1967 – Victoria Hall, Dunbar, Scotland

8 July 1967 – Market, Carlisle, Cumbria

9 July 1967 – Top 10 Club, Dundee, Scotland

10 July 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland

12 July 1967 – Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen, Scotland

13 July 1967 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland

15 July 1967 – Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Stewart Henry & The Livewires

19 July 1967 – Disco Blue, Ryde, Isle of Wight

20 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

21 July 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

22 July 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

22 July 1967 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent

24 July 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

26 July 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Brighton, West Sussex

On 27 July 1967, Arthur (Art) Regis took over from Carl Noel after playing with Billie Davis & The Quality (and more recently Engelbert Humperdinck). Regis had previously worked with Frederick in Rupert & The Red Devils. He’d also played with Arthur Brown during 1965-1966 and then Freddie Mack in early 1967.

The line up now comprises:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Count Prince Miller – lead vocals

Wallace Wilson – lead guitar

Phil Chen – bass

Art Regis – keyboards

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor sax

Pat Sandy – baritone sax

Rupert Balgobin – drums

Selected gigs

27 July 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (presumably Regis’ debut gig)

29 July 1967 – Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent

5 August 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

12 August 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

15 August 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

18 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

22 August 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

24 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

26 August 1967 – St George’s Hall, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Catharacts

28 August 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire with Elmer Gantry

28 August 1967 – Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop (Wakefield Express) Missing from Art Regis’ gig list

29 August 1967 – Nottingham Blues Festival, Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Long John Baldry, Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and Wynder K Frog

1 September 1967 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester

1 September 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester

2 September 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Bread & Butter Band

3 September 1967 – Locarno, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

9 September 1967 – Gigs in Ghent and Lens, Belgium

10 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)

11 September 1967 – Gig in Paris, France (possibly La Tour Club)

15 September 1967 – St Michael’s Hall, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire

16 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Friction and Eyes of Blonde

17 September 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Delmonts

19 September 1967 – Gig in Malvern, Worcestershire

20 September 1967 – Pavilion, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire

23 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Crew and The Gentle Madness

24 September 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire

25 September 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk

26 September 1967 – BBC Overseas Service, Aeolian Hall, London

29 September 1967 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

30 September 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington with the Purple Mist and The Penjants

1 October 1967 – Cosmopolitan, Carlisle, Cumbria

2 October 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

3 October 1967 – BBC Dave Symonds, Saturday Club

5 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Le Gay

6 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

7 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow and McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

8 October 1967 – Maryland Glasgow, Scotland

9 October 1967 – McGoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland

11 October 1967 – 5^th Dimension, Leicester

13 October 1967 – Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire

14 October 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire

14 October 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

15 October 1967 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire

16 October 1967 – Gig in Norwich (cancelled)

17 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

19 October 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

20 October 1967 – Carnatic Hall, Liverpool

21 October 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent

22 October 1967 – Kyrle Hall, Birmingham

24 October 1967 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire

25 October 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire

27 October 1967 – University of Surrey, Battersea Park Road, London

28 October 1967 – The Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with Cockahoop

28 October 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

29 October 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands

30 October 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Clubs, St Matthew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk

3 November 1967 – Gig in York, North Yorkshire

4 November 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

10 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Deadly Nightshades and The System

11 November 1967 – Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex

12 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, London with The Nice and David McWilliams

13 November 1967 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Amboy Dukes

14 November 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (with Eddie Gray’s resident house band)

17 November 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire with Bleu Kats

18 November 1967 – Leicester University, Leicester

18 November 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester

19 November 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

20 November 1967 – Bluesville ’67, St Mathew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk

22 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Southampton, Hampshire

23 November 1967 – Locarno, Streatham, London

24 November 1967 – Bluesville, Manor House, London

25 November 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Nature’s Own

26 November 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London with The Living Daylights

27 November 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Bath

1 December 1967 – Lancaster University, Lancaster

2 December 1967 – Nottingham University, Nottingham

3 December 1967 – New Regis Club, Butlin’s Holiday Camp, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

7 December 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

8 December 1967 – Students’ Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers and Precious Few (Eastern Evening News)

9 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jo Jo Gunn, Reformation and Ray Bones

10 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex

12 December 1967 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (cancelled)

12 December 1967 – Aston University, Birmingham

14 December 1967 – Student’s Union, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk with Herbie Goins & The Night Timers and Precious Few

15 December 1967 – “Big C”, Farnborough, Hampshire

16 December 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

18 December 1967 – Bluesville, Ipswich, Suffolk

21 December 1967 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex

22 December 1967 – Manor House (could be London or Ipswich)

23 December 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

24 December 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Bluecaps

27 December 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

30 December 1967 – Pavilion Theatre, Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire with Peppers Machine

30 December 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester

31 December 1967 – Brave New World, Southsea, Hampshire

4 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

13 January 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Funny Farm

18 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Derby, Derbyshire

19 January 1968 – Students Union, Nottingham Regional College of Technology, Nottingham with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound and The Litter

21 January 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

8 February 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

Around this time, Count Prince Miller, Wallace Wilson, Phil Chen and Rupert Balgobin gave notice that they were splitting from the group. Miller and Chen started to form The Counts with former member Carl Noel. The final gig with the old line-up appears to have been 2 March.

Jimmy James kept Art Regis, Fred “Nat” Frederick and Pat Sandy (aka Pat Gravesende) and started to recruit new musicians, billed as The New Vagabonds.

These included former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band members John Roberts (bass) and Herb Prestidge (drums). Another new recruit was trumpet player Barry Sutton and guitarist Dave Tedstone, who gave notice with his current employer Freddie Mack.

Initially, Art Regis’ old band mate from The Arthur Brown Union, Roy Stacey played bass before John Roberts took over.

17 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (billed as Jimmy James Show)

18 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex

23 February 1968 – Tottenham Royal, Tottenham, London

24 February 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset

25 February 1968 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Coconut Mushroom

26 February 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (billed as Jimmy James Show)

29 February 1968 – Streatham Locarno, Streatham, London

1 March 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

2 March 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

The new line up comprises:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Dave Tedstone – lead guitar

Art Regis – organ

Roy Stacey – bass (replaced by John Roberts)

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone

Pat Gravesende – tenor and baritone saxophone

Barry Sutton – trumpet

Herb Prestidge – drums

Selected gigs

5 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (debut of new line up according to Regis’ diary) Roy Stacey on bass

6 March 1968 – South Parade Pier, Portsmouth, Hampshire

9 March 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Supernatural

10 March 1968 – Butlins “Regis Club” Bognor Regis, West Sussex

Roy Stacey left to work in a short-lived group with Iain Clark who went on to Cressida in late 1968 and John Roberts joined on bass

13 March 1968 – Mecca Ballroom, Leeds, West Yorkshire

16 March 1968 – Cheshire College of Education, Crewe, Cheshire

17 March 1968 – Lyddon Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset

20 March 1968 – Top Rank, Bristol

22 March 1968 – Gig in Addington, London

23 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire

27 March 1968 – Tangerine Club, East Ham, London

28 March 1968 – Marimba, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

29 March 1968 – Salford University, Salford, Greater Manchester

30 March 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)

In early April 1968, the press announces that Count Miller and other former Vagabonds had formed The Counts

5 April 1968 – Die Hallen, Kortrijk, Belgium with Johnny Halliday and The Lemons

6 April 1968 – Eden Ranch, Lens, Belgium

7 April 1968 – L’Omnibus and Le Trident, Paris, France

11 April 1968 – Barn Barbecue Dance, Thurmaston, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Alan Bown, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention, Legay, Sons & Lovers, The Equals, Pesky Gee, Pitiful Souls and Six Across (Regis says this clashes with the following gig)

11 April 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

12 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland

13 April 1968 – Maryland, Glasgow, Scotland

14 April 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Dominoes

15 April 1968 – The Barn Barbecue, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Soft Machine, Fleetwood Mac, The Equals, Alan Bown, Fairport Convention, Legay, Pitiful Souls, Sons & Lovers, Six Across, Pesky Gee

19 April 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

20 April 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine (billed as The Jimmy James Show)

21 April 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

22 April 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Clubs, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk

24 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

25 April 1968 – The Pier, Worthing, West Yorkshire

26 April 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Delroy Williams and The Sugar Band, The New Trend and Continuity Big D Show

27 April 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinkley, Leicestershire (Regis has Hackney but this is more likely)

30 April 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London

4 May 1968 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Ten Years After and The Precious Few

8 May 1968 – Spa Lounge & Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

10 May 1968 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

11 May 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London

12 May 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham

21 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

24 May 1968 – Manor House (London or Ipswich)

25 May 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with support

26 May 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex

31 May 1968 – White Lion, Edgeware, London

1 June 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Peppermint Creams

3 June 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

7 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Green Ginger (billed as The Jimmy James Show)

8 June 1968 – Winter Gardens, Western Super Mare, Somerset

14 June 1968 – Anson Suite, New Union Building, Bristol

15 June 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent

19 June 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts

20 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London

21 June 1968 – College of Education, Leicester

22 June 1968 – Gig in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (most likely Bridlington Spa)

23 June 1968 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex

28 June 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire

29 June 1968 – Newark Rugby Club, Newark, Nottinghamshire

30 June 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The West Coast Promotion

The new formation releases its debut 45, issued on Pye, “Red Red Wine” c/w “Who Could be Loving You?”

Tony Priestland, who has played with Art Regis in Arthur Brown’s band in 1965 briefly joins around about now plus a trumpet player called Don.

4 July 1968 – Cornwall Technical College (possibly St Austell) with PP Arnold and Spirit of John Morgan

6 July 1968 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent

7 July 1968 – Douglas House, U.S. Military Social Club, London

12 July 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

13 July 1968 – Gig in Yardley, Birmingham

14 July 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

16 July 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

18 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol

19 July 1968 – Tottenham Royal, London

21 July 1968 – Union Club, Nottingham

23 July 1968 – The Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

25 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire

26 July 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London

27 July 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

28 July 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire

At some point (most likely during July), the band recorded four tracks which were later picked up by Acid Jazz for its Lookin’ Good EP: “She’s Looking Good”, “Aunt Dora’s Love Soul Shack”, “Soul Sister, Brown Sugar” and “Why (Must I Be Treated So Bad)”

Regis’ diary has Scottish tour for 29 July-6 August 1968

Dave Tedstone leaves immediately after this tour to work with Geno Washington. His temporary replacement is guitarist John Bedder who has played with The Savages and also Winston G

The line-up now comprises:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

John Bedder – lead guitar

Art Regis – organ

John Roberts – bass

Fred “Nat” Frederick – tenor saxophone

Pat Gravesende – baritone saxophone

Tony Priestland – alto saxophone

Barry Sutton – trumpet

Don ? – trumpet?

Herb Prestidge – drums

10 August 1968 – Botley, Oxfordshire

13 August 1968 – BBC Stuart Henry Show (if this is the date the show aired, this might be the tracks described above, later released by Acid Jazz)

15 August 1968 – Royal Pier, Southampton, Hampshire

16 August 1968 – Plaza, Teignmouth, Devon

16 August 1968 – Plaza, Tynemouth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (very unlikely but advertised)

17 August 1968 – R.A.F. Raven Club, Waddington, Devon

18 August 1968 – Linden Sports Club, Bournemouth, Dorset

24 August 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

29 August 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Echo says 27 August)

30 August 1968 – Candlelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Dave Tedstone returns around about now

31 August 1968 – Gig in Western Super Mare, Somerset (may be Tedstone’s first gig back)

1 September – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands

8 September – Beau Brummel, Nantwich, Cheshire

9 September – Gig in Bath

12 September – Gig in Worthing, West Sussex

13 September 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

Around this time Art Regis departs and Bill Coleman takes over on organ. Tony Priestland also moves on to join Titus Groan. Another former Ram Jam member, Lionel Kingham comes in on sax

This same month, Pye issues the band’s LP Open Up Your Soul

25 September 1968 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

28 September 1968 – Leascliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent

1 October 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

4 October 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

5 October 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

9 October 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Renaissance Fair

15 October 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

18 October 1968 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

19 October 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Privy Seal

20 October 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Chelfont Line

29 October 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire

1 November 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with The Package Deal and Dave the Rave

3 November 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London

8 November 1968 – University of Sussex, Brighton, West Sussex

9 November 1968 – Pavilion, Weston Super Mare, Somerset

10 November 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham

12 November 1968 – Kirkcaldy Ice Rink, Kirkcaldy, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession

13 November 1968 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Herd, The Procession and The Emeralds

15 November 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with Brian Marshall Foundation, Haze and Procession

15 November 1968 – Dundee Ice Rink, Dundee, Scotland with The Love Affair, The Herd and Procession

28 November 1968 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

29 November 1968 – Elms Court Hotel, Botley, Oxford with Paper Lemon

30 November 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent

3 December 1968 – Spa Lounge, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

6 December 1968 – Pier Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire

7 December 1968 – Brighton University, Brighton, West Sussex

8 December 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art, northeast London with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Pretty Things

13 December 1968 – John Dalton College, Manchester

14 December 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands

14 December 1968 – Cliff Pavilion, Folkestone, Kent (unlikely)

15 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London

16 December 1968 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire

21 December 1968 – St George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Spring and Tom-E-Tee

In late December Jimmy James dissolves the current formation and puts together a new line up the following month. Phil Chen returns from The Counts and the group also features former Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band member, guitarist Pete Gage

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Pete Gage – lead guitar

Bill Coleman – keyboards

Phil Chen – bass

Clive Stephens – saxophone

Barry Sutton – trumpet

+ others

Pete Gage describes the situation as a “pick up band vibe” with various musicians coming and going alongside those listed above. He was also getting tired of the soul scene and started to get into more early jazz fusion so later that year he and Stephens left to form Dada. Chen also departs and Coleman helps Jimmy James revamped the group again

Selected gigs

1 January 1969 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire

6 January 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

10-11 January 1969 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

24 January 1969 – Shrewsbury Hotel, Bridgewater, Somerset

25 January 1969 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with Justin Tyme

26 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners

Melody Maker notes that Jimmy James split from their recording manager John Schroeder and will use independent producers from now on. Next is Pete Gage and 45 “Close The Door on My World”.

1 February 1969 – Winter Gardens, Weston Super Mare, Somerset

4 February 1969 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire

6 February 1969 – Locarno, Portsmouth, Hampshire

8 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

13 February 1969 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

15 February 1969 – New Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, West Midlands

16 February 1969 – Belle Vue, Manchester

17 February 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Lemon Cartoon and Cleo’s Mood

22 February 1969 – Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset

The band releases the 45 “Open the Door” c/w “Why” on Pye

6 April 1969 – Sherwood rooms, Nottingham with Marv Johnson & The Bandwagon

12 April 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London

15 April 1969 – Revolution, central London

27 April 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with White Rabbit

3 May 1969 – Kennington College, south London

26 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez and Charlie Foxx, The Fantastics and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

2 June 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Rubber Soul Band and Wall City Jazzmen

7 June 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Rainbow Folly and The Connection

14 July 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

18 July 1969 – Devizes Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire with Tom Browne and Green Ice

20 July 1969 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Clyde McPhatter

Pip Williams joins on lead guitar around late July from The Fantastics’ backing band The House of Orange. From his recollections, it looks like some of the musicians who had played with Jimmy James in 1968 returned

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Pip Williams – lead guitar

Bill Coleman – keyboards

John Roberts – bass

Barry Sutton – trumpet

Lionel Kingham – tenor sax

Herb Prestidge – drums

Williams doesn’t remember many gigs but does recall playing at the Club Saint Hilaire de La Mer in St Maxime in the south of France during the summer, which lasted about a week. He also remembers that former member Count Prince Miller stepped in as MC a few times. The group later split from Jimmy James to back Jimmy Ruffin.

Selected gigs

6 August 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

6 September 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Attic Express and Paper Lemon

14 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

21 September 1969 – Caribbean Music Festival, Empire Pool, Wembley, London with Johnny Nash, Desmond Dekker, Maxi Romeo, Jackie Edwards, Count Prince Miller, Joyce Bond, Root and Jenny Jackson, Black Velvet, Derek Morgan, The Mohawks, Pat Kelly and The Skatalites

2 October 1969 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band

25 October 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Ritual

27 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Petrus, Golliwog and Wall City Jazzmen

31 October 1969 – Flamingo Entertainment Centre, Hereford

8 November 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Village Green Road Show

9 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

23 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

24 December 1969 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Freddie Mac Show and Lloyd Williams Soul Caravan

3 January 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Dandelion Replaced Spooky Tooth

In early 1970, James completely revised the group line-up as the following:

Jimmy James – lead vocals

Chris Garefield – lead guitar

Alan Kirk – keyboards

Alan Wood – bass

Russell Courtney – drums

Selected gigs

2 March 1970 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands

14 May 1970 – Byron, Greenford, northwest London

23 May 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with support

31 May 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

4 July 1970 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London

28 July 1970 – Top Rank Suite, Birmingham with Major Lance, J J Jackson & Dilemma, The Fantastic Honey and Darling & The Purple Bloom

9 August 1970 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

10 October 1970 – Madison Club, Torquay, Devon

24 December 1970 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Fantastics and Carl Edwards Roadshow

Art Regis helped greatly by sharing his diary dates. Thanks also to Pete Gage, Pip Williams, Dave Tedstone, Phil Chen and Roy Stacey. Big thanks to David Else for his help with chronology of the early years and fact checking

Sources include:

Aldershot News, Beat Instrumental, Maidstone Gazette, East Kent Times & Mail, Nuneaton Evening Tribune, Fabulous 208 Magazine, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Argus (Brighton), Bournemouth Evening Echo, Gloucestershire Echo, Melody Maker, Leicester Mercury, Southern Evening Echo, Northwich Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Newham, West & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express, Yorkshire Evening Post, Eastern Evening News, Evening Star (Ipswich), Bucks Free Press (High Wycombe), Dundee Evening Telegraph, Folkestone & Hythe Gazette, Essex Chronicle, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Portsmouth News, Retford Times, The Star, the Dorset Evening Echo, the Express & Star, Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. Western Gazette, Derbyshire Times, Wakefield Express, Dave Allen provided Birdcage gigs for Southsea and Eastney.

Categories: Country, England, London

Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement

December 10, 2015 Nick Warburton 18 Comments

Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement, 1965. Back row, left to right: Chris Palmer, Gary Laub and Peter Vernon-Kell. Front: Fedon Tilberis

In August 1965, an obscure R&B outfit named Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement signalled its arrival on the London scene with an impressive rendition of The Velvelettes’ Motown classic “Really Saying Something” (later a sizeable UK hit for Bananarama) and then seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.

Then, almost two years later, a band calling itself Hamilton & The Movement descended on the airwaves with the infectious soul-rocker, “I’m Not the Marrying Kind”, a Bill Wyman penned and produced number, infused with punchy horn lines, funky drums and some groovy Hammond organ fills. Could this really be the same band and, if so, why such a long radio silence?

The answer to that question is both a yes and a no. While both outfits were fronted by a singer called Gary Hamilton, they were in fact two entirely different groups, albeit each with fascinating histories. To understand how these two bands became entwined, it’s important to go back to the early Sixties and the man who kick-started ‘the movement’, so to speak – Gary Hamilton.

The son of an English mother and American father, Gary Hamilton was in fact a certain Gary Laub, who grew up in London’s Marble Arch and St John’s Wood areas.

In 1962, Laub formed his first (unnamed) group with a school friend and lead guitarist named Graham who lived opposite Lords cricket ground. Soon after, they were joined by bass player Chris Palmer, rhythm guitarist Ian Hunt and (finally) drummer Fedon Tilberis, who all attended Haverstock School.

“How Chris and Ian met Gary I don’t know,” says Tilberis. “I joined a little later but Graham was still in the band and left soon after. We enlisted a replacement lead guitarist named Mike Allen and emerged as a five-piece named The Moondogs. The name was [Gary’s father] Mr Laub’s idea before we auditioned at the famous Two Is coffee bar.”

Fast forward to spring 1965 and Laub, Palmer and Tilberis had to reshuffle the pack when Allen and Hunt moved on. Through a friend of Tilberis, they were introduced to two older guitarists – Costas and Bernie – and started gigging as Cell Block 5.

“Costas was an ex-pro who had played US bases in Germany; he was a men’s tailor by trade. Bernie was from Rochdale. They were then in their late Twenties,” remembers Tilberis.

“We practised in the cellar of a scrap shop in south London that they knew. They did a three-nighter with us in a Greek Street cellar club called Les Cousins that I hustled but Bernie, not feeling very happy, left on the last night after the gig. Costas stayed on for a London suburb gig. They were only with us for about seven or eight weeks.”

Coining a new name, The Reaction, Tilberis hit the jackpot when he stumbled across Rayrik Studio owners Rick Minas and Bruce Rea, who offered up their Chalk Farm studio as a practice room. In return, the outfit would play free on any demo recording sessions when required.

“As it turned out, this was a great deal for us as we never had to record anything there other than our audition to clinch the agreement and practised for free,” continues the drummer.

Abetted by guitar legend Mick Green, The Reaction duly auditioned and Minas was bowled over by the performance.

“Chris and I had auditioned Mick at Chris’ place in Kilburn shortly before the Rayrik audition and we were both very impressed,” remembers Tilberis.

“Although Mick didn’t commit himself, he was interested in doing the Rayrik session, maybe hoping for some recording session gigs. I can’t remember what the number was that we recorded or if Gary was even there, but do remember listening to the backing take after and Mick’s comment. He said that it was a good clean recording and that you could build on it. Rick and Bruce agreed.”

Peter Vernon-Kell (front) with The Macabre outside the Ealing Club. Photo: Peter Vernon-Kell

However, when Mick Green opted to return to The Dakotas, with whom he had been playing with after leaving Johnny Kidd & The Pirates the previous year, Peter Vernon-Kell, a member of Goldhawk Social Club and Ealing Club regulars, The Macabre assumed guitar duties. Incidentally, Vernon-Kell had also been a brief member of The Detours, a forerunner of The Who.

“Both Mick Green and Peter Vernon-Kell came to us via a [Melody Maker] ad in that order. We did see other guitarists but finally settled for Peter after Mick moved on to greener pastures [excuse the pun],” explains Tilberis.

“Peter shared our new musical orientation and attitude, and as far as we were concerned, he fitted the bill. I then arranged our first practice at Rayrik.”

Prior to Vernon-Kell’s addition to the group’s ranks, Minas and Rea had introduced impresario Robert Stigwood, and the Australian subsequently offered Gary Laub a recording deal and put the band on his agency books.

Stigwood insisted that “Really Saying Something” should be the ‘A’ side while Rick Minas and his song-writing partner Mike Banwell offered up “I Won’t See You Tonight” for the flipside.

Before cutting both tracks at a demo session at Regent Sound in Denmark Street, Vernon-Kell coined a new name; The Reaction sounding too similar to The Action, The Who’s regular Tuesday night opener at the Marquee.

“He came up with The Hamilton Movement [in honour of Macabre guitarist Ed Hamilton] in the pub before the session [and] we thought it was great,” remembers Tilberis, who adds that Gary Laub, although at first not so keen, adopted ‘Hamilton’ as a stage name.

Having booked Olympic Sound (then situated in Baker Street) for the final recordings (and unbeknownst to the musicians), Stigwood augmented the band with Graham Bond on piano.

“We were aware who Graham was and were pleased to have him on board for the session,” says Tilberis.

According to the drummer, the tracks required only a few takes per playback and for the lead/backing vocals. Released in August 1965, the single entered the Radio Caroline charts at number 65 on 23 October and peaked at number 53 the following week.

However, the musicians soon realised that any talk of ‘band democracy’ was just that. Not only did the single list the outfit as Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement but Stigwood started promoting them as such.

“Only Gary was allowed to perform on Ready Steady Go using our playback, though we were allowed to attend the show,” explains Tilberis.

Interestingly, as future Hamilton Movement member Mel Wayne recalls, Stigwood insisted on the same conditions with another of his charges, The All-Nite Workers, who were backing Indian singer Simon Scott around the same time.

“Simon mimed to our backing track [on Ready Steady Go] while we had to stand on the balcony with the audience,” says the sax player. “It must have been a Stigwood thing.”

Aired on 22 October 1965, Gary Hamilton appeared on the popular British TV show alongside The Animals, The Searchers, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Rolling Stones, which may have been where the singer linked up with Bill Wyman.

By then, the group had started to pick up consistent live work, kicking off with a memorable gig at Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff on 30 August with The Who, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Easybeats (not the Australian outfit), which had been arranged by the Stigwood/Lambert-Stamp team.

“It looked like a sports hall with an enormous stage at one end. We went up the day before and slept in the van and hung about till early next afternoon to unload our gear,” says Tilberis.

“Townsend was also there early and limbering up in The Who’s dressing room. As our Pete knew him, he went to say ‘allo’ and introduce his new mates… [Townsend] asked Pete if he could borrow his Fender amp for the gig. Pete was more than wary, after all he didn’t want his amp wrecked so Townsend promised to only demolish his Marshall gear.

“Keith Moon and Tony Banks, drummer of The Merseybeats, were looning around and generally getting on everybody’s nerves, especially Entwistle’s as Moon had donned his bass and was running up and down the stage strumming it like a maniac. I thought John was going to thump him.”

More provincial gigs followed, not to mention the obligatory Mod clubs in London, including the El Partido in Lewisham where the outfit played alongside The Duke Lee Sounds on 30 October 1965.

However, in mid-late January 1966, the Stigwood/Lambert & Stamp team secured a spot for the band on a three-day, two shows a day package tour, once again opening for Vernon-Kell’s former band mates, The Who, and also featuring Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Fortunes.

“Bob [Stigwood] arranged for us to practise at the Granada TV rehearsal studios at the Oval about a week beforehand,” remembers Tilberis. “He and Lambert came to oversee the rep and offer presentation tips for our opening spot on the show.”

The tour debut duly took place at the Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park on 4 February and was followed by a gig at the Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea the next day, culminating with a final engagement on 6 February at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

The following month, on 11-12 March, the musicians found themselves on the campus of Essex University in Colchester where a number of bands, including the up and coming Pink Floyd were entertaining the students.

Then in April, Stigwood linked up with Chris Blackwell to promote a second package tour headlined by The Who, this time with Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement joining the likes of The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and (most notably) Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System (aka New Generation) (who featured musicians that would form part of the soon-to-be Hamilton Movement).

The four-day tour, with two shows a day, kicked off at the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton on 14 April. After weaving its way on to Fairfield Halls in Croydon, then the Odeon in Watford, the tour wound up at the Regal Theatre in Edmonton.

“Gary’s mum called me on Saturday, 16 April in the afternoon asking if we would do the Watford gig that evening,” says the drummer. “Although we all had other plans I rounded up Pete and Chris and we did that gig.”

Stigwood then proposed a second single and once again engaged Graham Bond on piano. The sessions included a stab at The Who’s “A Legal Matter” as the ‘B’ side, which was cut as an instrumental track. However, the recording of the ‘A’ side did not go well, as Tilberis recalls.

“We weren’t raving about the number. Stigwood arranged a practice room and gave us a single to learn but I can’t remember what it was called. I had a trouble with the drum part on the session.

“Bob was well peeved but let us play one of our tunes that we were working on, but there was no melody line or title at that stage and he didn’t like it. The Olympic session was a blow out and Bob gave us the thumbs down, we were out and the gig flow stopped.”

As Tilberis points out, there was still no signed contract, and the singer was looking out for himself. “Gary’s dad [Harry] being a shrewd businessman and used to dealing with contracts and small print had deleted a hefty portion of the contract!”

Chris Palmer and Fedon Tilberis soon left for Jimmy & The Rackets, a British beat group with hit parade successes in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Joining long-standing frontman, Jimmy Duncombe and guitarist Mike Bell, Tilberis remained with the Swiss-based outfit until spring 1968 while Palmer stayed on for another year.

The pair appeared on a cache of European-only released singles by The Rackets, kicking off with a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “C’mon Everybody” backed by a cover version of George Harrison’s “I Want To Tell You”.

The pair ended up setting up home in Switzerland where, in 1970, The Chris Palmer Band recorded the ultra-rare solo LP Fingertips, featuring originals from all the band members.

Palmer later hit pay day in 1980 when Surface Noise topped the UK dance music chart with a cover of his song, “The Scratch”. Tilberis re-joined The Rackets and played with local bands, including Swiss Sixties specialists, The Countdowns.

Vernon-Kell meanwhile subsequently moved into production. Setting up PVK Records, he managed Peter Green and produced a string of his late 1970s and early 1980s albums. More recently, he’s become an executive producer for films and currently runs Cabana Films Ltd.

But Gary Hamilton wasn’t finished with The Hamilton Movement. In late July/early August 1966, he linked up with Jimmy Cliff’s backing band, The New Generation, renaming them The Movement.

Bass player Ron Thomas, who years later struck fame with The Heavy Metal Kids, thinks the link-up came through The New Generation’s keyboard player Mick Fletcher.

“[Mick] was always going down all the clubs around Wardour Street,” says the bass player. “He was always ducking and diving and I thought he just met him [Gary Hamilton] out there one night.”

“Me and Mickie Fletcher were great mates and frequented The Ship in Wardour Street and drank with Gary there quite a bit,” confirms sax player Mel Wayne.

“We were all a bit frustrated the way things were going with Jimmy Cliff because he didn’t have a soul or pop voice, which was the sort of music Chris Blackwell wanted him to do and engaged us for.”

New Generation members Ron Thomas and Mel Wayne, together with fellow sax player Dave Mahoney, had first come together in West London R&B outfit Mike Dee & The Prophets.

Adding Thomas’s school friend Mick Stewart on guitar in mid-1965, they split from Mike Dee and worked as Anglo-Indian singer Simon Scott’s backing group, The All-Nite Workers. Their lone single together was produced by none other than Robert Stigwood!

By late 1965, former Paramounts drummer Phil Wainman had assumed leadership, and after cutting several singles with Errol Dixon and briefly backing Freddie Mack, Mick Stewart jumped ship to join Johnny Kidd & The ‘New’ Pirates.

Having previously introduced Mick Fletcher from The Epitaph Soul Band, guitarist Tony Sinclair (aka Tony St. Clair) completed the new formation, now gigging as The Sound System.

Through a chance meeting with Chris Blackwell, the sextet supported his roster of artists – Jackie Edwards, Millie, Owen Grey and most notably Jimmy Cliff. Trumpet player John Droy joined just before the Gary Hamilton pairing.

Clockwise from front: Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher, Gary Laub, Tony Sinclair, Mel Wayne, Dave Mahoney and Phil Wainman

The expanded group began rehearsing at London’s Colony Club where Gary’s father was employed; US film star George Raft worked as its casino director and briefly financed the outfit. Mel Wayne adds that the group also rehearsed at Caesars Palace in Dunstable and Ken Collier’s London club.

When John Droy bailed after a short nationwide tour with The Walker Brothers in mid-August to join The Quotations, The Movement expanded its line-up, bringing in trumpet players – Mike Bailey, Alan Ellis and Patrick Higgs, the latter from Elton John’s group, Bluesology around December. (Ed: One of the unsuccessful musicians to audition was trumpet player Verdi Stewart, who would be instrumental in landing Mel Wayne future work with Carl Douglas.)

“We had a ten-piece band; a five-piece brass section; three trumpets. When I think of it now, we were all on a wage,” recalls Thomas.

That November, Gary Hamilton landed a recording deal with CBS and the musicians entered IBC Studios to work with Rolling Stone Bill Wyman in the producer’s chair.

“That was something that [Gary’s father] Mr Laub put together. He said, ‘We’ve got a song for you’,” remembers Phil Wainman, who adds that the group nailed both sides in a couple of takes.

“He [Bill Wyman] just let us get on with it. The band was so good. We’d rehearsed it prior to the studio and… in three hours I think we were done, recorded and mixed.”

“I’m Not The Marrying Kind” c/w “My Love Belongs To You” was duly released on 10 February 1967 and hit single written all over it.

However, despite having supported The Who at Leeds University on 21 January and then making a notable appearance at the Saville Theatre opening for Chuck Berry and Del Shannon on 19 February, the single’s commercial failure prompted the backers to drastically reduce the group’s bookings.

Phil Wainman was the first to abandon ship for The Overlanders and then Jack Hammer, author of “Great Balls of Fire”.

After co-penning The Yardbirds’ cover “Little Games” and working with The Quotations, Wainman became a top session player and then a successful producer with Sweet and Boomtown Rats, among his credits.

“As a producer I did so much better than as a musician,” says Wainman. “That’s where I did well. I probably sold about 300 million records.”

James Smith, fresh from an audition with The New Pirates, reforming after Johnny Kidd’s death, assumed the drum stool.

“I got a call from Ron Thomas,” remembers the newcomer. “He said Mick Stewart had given him my number and would I be interested in auditioning? I got the gig, though it was a hard act to follow. Phil was one of the best drummers around at the time.”

Smith remembers the band finding plenty of work on the university circuit that spring, including Keele, Nottingham, Leeds and Birmingham.

In the first week of April, Melody Maker reported that the group had whittled down from a 10 piece to a seven piece. Mel Wayne left to join Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede and two other horn players also departed, most likely including Pat Higgs.

On 27 May, Hamilton & The Movement joined Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Action, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Swinging Blue Jeans to entertain the students at Oxford’s Hertford Balls.

The drummer also says that The Hamilton Movement opened for US soul act Sam and Bill several times (most notably at the Boston Gliderdrome on 15 July) before further changes ensued during August and October 1967.

“The brass section dropped out and this kind of triggered a fairly rapid exodus… There were no gigs for a while so Tony, Mick and Ron found other work,” says the drummer.

While Mick Fletcher failed to reunite with Mel Wayne in Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (the job went to Rod Mayall), he next appears to have played with The Rifle (with guitarist Del Grace from Carl Douglas’ band and singer Malcolm Magaron) and then The Amboy Dukes in late 1969 for a short tour into mid-1970.

Tony Sinclair briefly played with Lace before joining Freddie Mack’s band in early 1968. The soul outfit split from the former boxer in 1969 and worked with Dave Hadfield at his studio on the Old Kent Road, providing backing tracks for various artists on Hadfield’s Revolution label.

Ron Thomas meanwhile got a job with guitarist Pip Williams’s band, The House of Orange, backing US soul act, The Fantastics.

“They were right in the middle of a tour backing Garnet Mimms,” he recalls. “They were a house band working with Roy Tempest. They just phoned me up. Their bass player had got slung out in the middle of the tour and they had a gig that night.”

With ‘The Movement’ on hold, James Smith had also started to explore other avenues and even had an offer on the table when Gary Hamilton convinced him to hang on.

“Gary came up with Mick Stewart and Tony Savva and said he wanted to change the style and format going with a three-piece backing band, so I decided to stay,” says the drummer.

Bass player Tony Savva was best known for his work with A Wild Uncertainty, the group that featured Eddie Hardin, who had replaced Stevie Winwood in The Spencer Davis Group that spring.

Savva is uncertain how the link-up with Hamilton came about but has some photos with A Wild Uncertainty drummer Gordon Barton and lead guitarist Peter Tidmarsh in them, which offers a clue.

“Gary and I were behind the camera,” he explains. “How and why I don’t know but obviously we were backing Gary as vocalist. Maybe Gordon and Peter split and Mick [Stewart] and Jimmy [Smith] came in.”

Mick Stewart, however, can throw more light on this transition period. “I believe that I played with Tony Savva for a little while because of something to do with Don Arden’s son David being a would-be-singer at the time,” says the guitarist.

“The intro to that was in a way due to Johnny Kidd. Over the years, he was in fact booked quite a bit by Don Arden’s agency and after he died, I believe that someone at Arden’s company suggested I play guitar in this back-up band. Tony was already in the line-up. At the end of the day, however, David Arden although he was a really great guy to be in a rock ‘n’ roll band with, he was not really a singer at all.”

Gary Hamilton 25 November 1967 Record Mirror

With the new version finding its feet, Gary Hamilton returned to the studios with session musicians to cut a solo single. Produced by Tony Meehan and penned by Mike D’Abo, “Let the Music Play”, backed by the self-penned “Don’t Ask”, was released by Decca on 12 November 1967 but flopped. A dramatic, big band production, “Let the Music Play” appears on Colour Me Pop, Volume Three and Fading Yellow Volume 9: The Other Side of Life.

During early November 1967, Gary Hamilton expanded the line-up by bringing in organist Terry Goldberg, who had previously played with The Mark Leeman Five and would go onto Tintern Abbey.

The five-piece gigged prolifically over the next four months, even opening for Ike & Tina Turner and others at the Boston Gliderdrome on 20 April 1968. Two days later, the musicians played possibly their final show at the 100 Club on Oxford Street before the inevitable split.

During 1968, Gary Hamilton recorded a one-track acetate “Carry The Can“, which was never released. The tracks were recorded with studio musicians and not the final version of The Hamilton Movement.

Mick Stewart immediately joined James Royal and participated in a prestigious concert tour alongside Johnny Cash, June Carter and Carl Perkins. During 1969-1970, he recorded three singles with Sweet before later moving to the United States in the late 1970s, where he works in Los Angeles and Nashville as a successful record producer and also owns a music publishing company and a recording studio.

Tony Savva meanwhile subsequently worked with Lionel Bart and Samuel Prody among others and currently lives in Cyprus. James Smith, who later recorded with Aquila, played with a revamped Nashville Teens before reuniting with Ron Thomas in The House of Orange.

“[Ron] said The Fantastics were coming back to the UK for a tour and he and Pip Williams were getting a backing band together and looking for a drummer and organist. I’d seen Ron and Pip previously so I didn’t need asking twice.”

As for Gary Hamilton, he joined the London production of Hair before resuming his solo career with a lone single for CBS and gigging briefly with Cozy Powell’s band, Big Bertha. Produced by Bernard Lee, the self-penned “Easy Rider” stalled when it was released on 5 December 1969.

Undeterred, he returned to Polydor for a cover of Ed Welch’s the “Monkey Song”, produced by Peter Knight Jr and arranged by John Fiddy. Released on 20 November 1970, the single flopped and Hamilton moved into movie acting; the eagle-eyed can catch him in the cult horror flick, Tower of Evil.

Thanks to Fedon Tilberis, Peter Vernon-Kell, Chris Palmer, Ron Thomas, Phil Wainman, Mel Wayne, James Smith, Mick Stewart and Tony Savva

To add information and make corrections, email: Warchive@aol.com

A version of this article appears in Ugly Things magazine.

Notable gigs (see comments section for sources):

Gary Hamilton (vocals)

Peter Vernon-Kell (guitar)

Chris Palmer (bass)

Fedon Tilberis (drums)

30 August 1965 – Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales with The Who, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Merseybeats and The Easybeats

18 September 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester

16 October 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City

30 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, south east London with The Duke Lee Sounds and The Loose Ends

13 November 1965 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks

27 November 1965 – Dungeon, Nottingham

4 December 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Profile

24 December 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Unit 4+2 and The Nite-Sect

4 January 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset

1 February 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants

4 February 1966 – Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, north London with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

5 February 1966 – Odeon Cinema, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

6 February 1966 – Empire Theatre, Liverpool with The Who, The Merseybeats, The Fortunes, The Graham Bond Organisation and Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages

11 February 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London with The Who and The Mike Rabin Group

18 February 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Circuit Five

19 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Ultimate

11-12 March 1966 – Essex University, Colchester, Essex with Pink Floyd and others

18 March 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham with Carl Pagan & The Heathens

19 March 1966 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with The Spectrum

11 April 1966 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Moody Blues and Dave & The Strollers

14 April 1966 – Gaumont Theatre, Southampton, Hants with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

15 April 1966 – Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

16 April 1966 – Odeon, Watford, Herts with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

17 April 1966 – Regal Theatre, Edmonton, north London with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System

21 May 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hants with The Nuetrons

The original band split around June 1966 and Gary Hamilton put together a new version in late July

Gary Hamilton (vocals)

Tony Sinclair (aka St Clair) (guitar)

Ron Thomas (bass)

Mick Fletcher (keyboards)

Mel Wayne (sax)

Dave Mahoney (sax)

John Droy (trumpet)

Phil Wainman (drums)

11-13 August 1966 – Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Kinks, The Walker Brothers, The Quotations, The Creation, The Wishful Thinking, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch and The Moody Blues

14 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Anzacs

John Droy left soon after the tour to join The Quotations

26 August 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

3 September 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Mystery Men

9 September 1966 – Benn Memorial Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire with The Roaring 60s and The Imagination (Rugby Advertiser)

18 September 1966 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with The Barry Lee Show

24 September 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Dave Berry & The Cruisers

29 September 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hampshire

1 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Thoughts

16 October 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Sabres (the band replaced MI5)

Three trumpets players joined around December – Mike Bailey, Alan Ellis and Pat Higgs

21 January 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Who

19 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Chuck Berry, The Canadians and Del Shannon

26 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Chuck Berry, The Candians and Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

11 March 1967 – Birdcage, Portsmouth, Hants (cancelled)

Phil Wainman left around now and Jim Smith joined on drums

18 March 1967 – Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey with The Easybeats

Around early April, Mel Wayne and two trumpet players left, most likely including Pat Higgs. The band carried on as a seven-piece with two horn players.

6 May 1967 – Royal Lido Ballroom, Prestatyn, Wales with The Quotations and The Raynes (billed as Hamilton)

27 May 1967 – Hereford Balls, Oxford with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Action, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and The Swinging Blue Jeans

10 June 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Collection and The Gas Company

11 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Craig King & The Midnight Train

17 June 1967 – Bal Tabarin, Downham, south east London with supporting groups

2 July 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Four Degrees West

6 July 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (billed as Hamilton & The Quotations but assuming it is the same band)

The group backed US soul singers Sam & Bill on a UK tour. The pair arrived on 12 July so it’s safe to assume the gigs listed below featured Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement

12 July 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts with Sam & Bill (most likely debut)

13 July 1967 – Sybilla’s, Swallow Street, Mayfair, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

15 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sam & Bill, The Skatalites and The Reasons

16 July 1967 – Speakeasy, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

21 July 1967 – Big ‘C’, Farnborough, Hants with Sam & Bill

21 July 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

22 July 1967 – New All-Star Club, Liverpool Street, central London (billed as Sam & Bill)

23 July 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Sam and Bill

23 July 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, London (billed as Sam & Bill)

28 July 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Sam & Bill plus One In A Million and That Feeling

29 July 1967 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with Sam & Bill and The Trap

30 July 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Sam & Bill and The Gas Company

13 August 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (says they were Sam and Bill’s backing group)

23 August 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts

25 August 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset

Dave Mahoney and the last trumpet player departed around now

2 September 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire

Sam & Bill played Floral Hall in Southport on 9 September 1967, but it’s unlikely they were support band this time.

15 September 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire

16 September 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

23 September 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford with The Scotch of St James

30 September 1967 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Jigsaw and Dave Jay

Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher and Tony Sinclair all left during October and the band was put on hold as Gary Hamilton recruited new players

Gary Hamilton (vocals)

Mick Stewart (guitar)

Tony Savva (bass)

Jim Smith (drums)

21 October 1967 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton

Terry Goldberg joined on keyboards

11 November 1967 – Brackley Town Hall, Brackley, Northamptonshire (possibly Goldberg’s debut)

8 December 1967 – City University, central London with The Soft Machine and Robert Hirst & The Big Taste

6 January 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Styx and Just Us

3 February 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

9 February 1968 – Tiger’s Head, Catford, south east London (billed as Hamilton’s Movements)

25 February 1968 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with Jay Jones (billed as The Gary Hamilton Movement)

26 February 1968 – Primrose Hill Working Men’s Club, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (billed as The Gary Hamilton Movement)

9 March 1968 – Clouds, Derby (says it’s an eight-piece soul band)

15 April 1968 – Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Koobas and Detroit Soul Sound

20 April 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincs with the Ike & Tina Turner Show, The Ikettes, The Artists and The Train Set

22 April 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (possibly the final gig)

Categories: England, Isleworth, London, Middlesex

Nurses Club, the Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, west London

March 16, 2014 Nick Warburton 2 Comments

Not far from Twickenham’s more famous Eel Pie Island, the Nurses Club, based in the Jolly Gardeners pub in Isleworth, was a popular music venue with local bands.

I would be interested to hear from anyone that can add any further dates or memories below.

18 February 1964 – Two groups

3 March 1964 – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated

17 March 1964 – Two groups (possibly one was The Tridents, see comments below)

1 April 1964 – Two groups

5 May 1964 – The Bo Street Runners, The Soul Messengers and The Mark Leeman Five

12 May 1964 – The Bo Street Runners, The Soul Messengers and The Mark Leeman Five

19 May 1964 – The Bo Street Runners, The Soul Messengers and The Mark Leeman Five

26 May 1964 – The Bo Street Runners, The Soul Messengers and The Mark Leeman Five

2 June 1964 – The Bo Street Runners, The Soul Messengers and The Mark Leeman Five

9 June 1964 – Two groups

16 June 1964 – Two groups

23 June 1964 – The Bo Street Runners

30 June 1964 – The Mark Leeman Five and Frankie Reid & The Casuals

14 July 1964 – The Bo Street Runners and The Others

28 July 1964 – The Mark Leeman Five and Ray Martin & The Corvettes

4 August 1964 – The Bluebottles

11 August 1964 – The Senators

18 August 1964 – The Habits

25 August 1964 – The Tramps and The Miston-Tuac

1 September 1964 – Group isn’t listed

8 September 1964 – The Second Thoughts

29 September 1964 – The Birds and The Wailbones with Flat-top

6 October 1964 – The Bo Street Runners and The Celts

13 October 1964 – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds with Preacher Brown & The Witnesses

3 November 1964 – The Peeple

10 November 1964 – The Roosters and The Coveners

17 November 1964 – Lester Square & The GTs

24 November 1964 – PM2 and Sheiks of R&B

1 December 1964 – The Modern Blues Six and The Little People

5 January 1965 – The Modern Blues Six

12 January 1965 – The Second Thoughts

19 January 1965 – The Runaways (ex-Bo Street Runners)

26 January 1965 – The Modern Blues Six

2 February 1965 – Johnny Smith & Co and Raving Flat-top & The Big Boss Men

9 February 1965 – Beaux Oddlot

16 February 1965 – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated

2 March 1965 – The Blue Ravens and The Impalas

9 March 1965 – The Blue Ravens and The Just Blues

16 March 1965 – Brothers Grimm and The Turnkeys

30 March 1965 – The Mark Leeman Five and The Tribe

13 April 1965 – The Blue Ravens and The Peeple

20 April 1965 – The Tramps and The Muscrats (Peter Green was guitarist for a while)

27 April 1965 – The Mark Leeman Five and Group Survival

4 May 1965 – The Blue Ravens and Jeff Elray & The Boys Blue

11 May 1965 – The Diaks and The Eyes

18 May 1965 – The Dillingers and The Crowd

1 June 1965 – The Modern Blues Six and The Senate Four

8 June 1965 – The Blue Ravens and The Ones

13 July 1965 – The Crowd with The Blues Etc

20 July 1965 – The Blue Ravens (Harrow Observer & Gazette) (Needs confirmation) Says Tuesdays

27 July 1965 – The Blue Ravens

3 August 1965 – D J Blues Band with The Minor Birds

10 August 1965 – The Senate Four

17 August 1965 – The Characters

24 August 1965 – The Dae-b-Four

31 August 1965 – The Kiko Six

7 September 1965 – Brothers Grimm

14 September 1965 – The Bo Street Runners and The Blue Ravens

21 September 1965 – The Blue Ravens and The Shondells

28 September 1965 – The Modern Blues Six and The Ikon

5 October 1965 – Jo Jo Gunne with The Road Agents

12 October 1965 – Norman & The Conquers and Blues Etc

26 October 1965 – Blues Folk with The Ferinos

2 November 1965 – The Nature Boys

18 January 1966 – The Miston-Tuac with The In-Tacks

25 January 1966 – The Flamingos with The Uncertain

1 February 1966 – The Sultans with The Debtors

The above gigs are from the Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Melody Maker and the Middlesex Chronicle (Hounslow Edition)

Categories: England, London

The Boathouse, Kew, west London

March 12, 2014 Nick Warburton 45 Comments

According 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)

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. 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)

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.

Categories: England, London, Putney, Surrey

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

March 8, 2014 Nick Warburton 25 Comments

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

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

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

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

1963

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

1965

Initially billed as the New Pontiac Club

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Action were recently billed as The Boys.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ingoes morphed into Blossom Toes.

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

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

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

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

The VIPs band morphed into Spooky Tooth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This band morphed into Marmalade.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1966

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

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

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

The In Crowd morphed into Tomorrow in early 1967.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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