Comprised of singers John Cheatdom, Jerome Ramos, Donald Haywoode and Richard Pitts and originally known as The Velours, US soul band, The Fantastics had enjoyed US chart success before being brought to the UK by promoter Roy Tempest in late 1967.

Billed as the “Fabulous Temptations” (even though there was no connection with the more famous Motown act), the group’s debut British tour took place in August/September 1967.

To support the soul act on the road, Roy Tempest’s agency hired west London band, The Sovereigns, who had been formed in mid-1965 and comprised singer Roy St John-Foster, lead guitarist Pip Williams, bass player Mick Williams, tenor sax player Freddie Tillyer (ex-Eddie King & The Chequers) and drummer Keith Franklin.

When the band turned professional, Pip’s brother Mick dropped out and Mick Tomich took over on bass. In October 1966, the band supported US soul singer Alvin Robinson on some British gigs.

In late 1966, The Sovereigns were signed to King Records and recorded a lone 45 which was issued in January 1967. The release combined Freddie Tillyer and Pip Williams’ “Bring Me Home Love” with a cover of “That’s the Way Love Is”.

Just before the band got picked up by Roy Tempest’s agency, Scotsman Brian Johnson, keyboard player in The Senate came on board.

Billed as The Clockwork Orange (although this may well be another band), the musicians appear at Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Discounts.

Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):

31 August 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

1 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Hertfordshire Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”

2 September 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with Pesky Gee (Leicester Mercury) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

2 September 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Equals, The Sovereigns and The Rubber Band  (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”

3 September 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Billed as “Temptations”

5 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as “Temptations”

6 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Billed as “The Temptations”

11 September 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The New Rave (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Temptations”

12 September 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as “The Temptations”

16 September 1967 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Wakefield Express) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

16 September 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire (The Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

17 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”

17 September 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Ray King Soul Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”

18 September 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”

19 September 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester with The Measles (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

After the first tour with The Fabulous Temptations (aka Fantastics), the band (now called The Clockwork Orange) backed US singer Garnet Mimms.

On 29 September 1967, The Clockwork Orange also played a solo gig at Princess Ballroom, Halifax, West Yorkshire.

According to Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News, Garnet Mimms played at the Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire on 8 October 1967. Although the support band isn’t listed, it is likely it was The Clockwork Orange.

Half way through the Garnett Mimms tour, Mick Tomich departed and Ron Thomas was brought in from Hamilton & Hamilton The Movement. Tomich went on to play with Pickettywitch among others.

They also did some gigs backing The Soul Sisters, including a show at the Boston Gliderdrome on 14 October.

Soon after, the group started to use the name The House of Orange (although they were also still billed as The Clockwork Orange occasionally).

On 22 October 1967, The House of Orange played two shows backing The Soul Sisters. These took place at the Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Pitiful Souls and The Place, Wakefield, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with Randy Dandy Band.

Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):

In November, The Fabulous Temptations (aka The Fantastics) returned for a second British tour. 

12 November 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Temptations” (backing band billed as The Senate) The Senate also backed Garnet Mimms

13 November 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Club, St Mathew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk with The Clockwork Orange (Ipswich Evening Star) Billed as The Fabulous Temptations

14 November 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Harrow Weekly Post) Billed as “The Temptations”

14 November 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”

15 November 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire with Clockwork Orange and Nepenthe with The Trend (Portsmouth News)

17 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”

18 November 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”

18 November 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”

19 November 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Clockwork Orange and Nepenthe with her Soul Men backing group (most likely The Trend) (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

25 November 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Gates of Eden (Cambridgeshire Times)

26 November 1967 – Purple Onion Club, Cleethorpes with The Roll Movement and The Clockwork Orange (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Billed as “The Temptations”

27 November 1967 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Sheffield Star)

30 November 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with The Clockwork Orange Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”

1 December 1967 – Palais Ballroom, Worksop, Worksop, Nottinghamshire with The Priscilla Juke Box with The Clockwork Orange (Doncaster Evening Post) Billed as “The Temptations” 

2 December 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with other acts (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

2 December 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester with The Clockwork Orange (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”

3 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Army Billed as “Temptations”

5 December 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker) Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”

9 December 1967 – Flower Pot Club, Digbeth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”

9 December 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) (tour ends today?)

13 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (House of Orange only gig)

During January 1968, The House of Orange gigged in its own right. They also backed Garnet Mimms on some gigs. Like this one:

19 January 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

In early February, The Fantastics returned for another tour

2 February 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

3 February 1968 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire with The House of Orange (Wakefield Express)

3 February 1968 – Plebians, Cheapside, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Huddersfield Daily Examiner) Says formerly known as “The Fabulous Temptations”

9 February 1968 – Clifton Hall, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Says ex-“Fab Temptations”

10 February 1968 – Tinned Chicken, Castleford, West Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

11 February 1968 – The Hub, Barnsley, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

14 February 1968 – St Valentine’s Dance, Victoria Ballroom, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (Sheffield Star) Says ex-“Fab Temptations”

17 February 1968 – Princes Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Peace & Quiet (Cornish Guardian)

23 February 1968 – Big C Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News) Billed as The Fantastics

24 February 1968 – Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock, Devon with Cousin Jacks (Cornish Guardian)

24 February 1968 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The House of Orange and The Missing Links (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)

25 February 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (bills backing group, The House of Orange) with The Jaytree Organisation

26 February 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

2 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Gospel Garden, The Reformation (Lincolnshire Standard) (bills backing group, The House of Orange)

2 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire (billed but replaced by Mike Cotton & Lucas)

3 March 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

17 March 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (bills backing group, The House of Orange) with The Jaytree Organisation

18 March 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall, Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Replaced The Impressions as no connection with Curtis Mayfield

24 March 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

25 March 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Not sure if this happened as they stepped in the previous Monday. They may have played both Mondays

27 March 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Club, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star) Says formerly The Fabulous Temptations

28 March 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

14 April 1968 – City Hall Ballroom, Barkers Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

15 April 1968 – Plebians, Cheapside, Halifax, West Yorkshire with The Clockwork Orange (Halifax Evening Courier and Guardian)

21 April 1968 – Clifton Hall, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

20 April 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with The House of Orange and Chris Shakespere Globe (Somerset County Gazette/Western Gazette)

26 April 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire (bills backing group, The House of Orange)

27 April 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Duke Reid Sound (Melody Maker)

28 April 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)

5 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

6 May 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Immediate Pleasure (Birmingham Evening Mail)

10 May 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester with House of Orange (Leicester Mercury)

13 May 1968 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

17 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

19 May 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex (Melody Maker)

19 May 1968 – Central R&B Club, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)

25 May 1968 – Brave New World, Eastney, Hampshire

2 June 1968 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

3 June 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds with The Herd, Bill Haley & The Comets, Alan Bown, Edwin Starr, Amboy Dukes, Gospel Garden, The Clockwork Orange and others

3 June 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Action (Cornish Guardian) (unlikely with gig in Leeds on the same day but was advertised)

9 June 1968 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker)

10 June 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)

11 June 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

15 June 1968 – Bulmershe College of Education, Woodley, Berkshire

22 June 1968 – Wolverhampton College of Technology, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Scarab (backed by The House of Orange)

23 June 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

8 July 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

13 July 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Sun (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

15 July 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)

20 July 1968 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, North Yorkshire with The Scarlet Farmyard and The Little Dedication (Scarborough Evening News)

30 July 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)

3 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

5 August 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

9 August 1968 – Derby Locarno, Derby, Derbyshire (Burton Daily Mail)

11 August 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

16 August 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London (Melody Maker)

22 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

23 August 1968 – New Market Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset (Bridgwater Mercury)

24 August 1968 – “Middle Earth”, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon (bills backing group, The House of Orange) with The Royals and Howard Stephen Shape

26 August 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

31 August 1968 – Tees Pop ’68, Recreation Ground, Eston, Teesside with Traffic, Ben E King, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Alan Bown, Family, Amboy Dukes, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, The Tramline, Rivers Invitation and Chelfont Line (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

1 September 1968 –Queen’s Hall, Leeds with Ben E King, Clyde McPhattter, The Flirtations, (the former The Gypsys, booked as The Fabulous Marvelettes and backed by The Trend), Tim Rose, Timebox and The World of Oz

2 September 1968 – Brave New World, Eastney, Hampshire

10 September 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)

11 September 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

13 September 1968 – Braintree Corn Exchange, Braintree, Essex with The Shannons (Essex Chronicle)

14 September 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Same Brothers and Confusion (Cornish Guardian)

16 September 1968 – Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with The Ray King Soul Band (Warwick Advertiser/Coventry Evening Telegraph)

17 September 1968 – Hatchettes Playground, Piccadilly, central London

18 September 1968 – Hotspot, Madison Club, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

21 September 1968 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with Just Us (Reading Evening Post)

23 September 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)

3 October 1968 – Scotch Discotheque, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

6 October 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

8 October 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

11 October 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

12 October 1968 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire with Fragrant Blend

18 October 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Chase and The Midnights (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

25 October 1968 – New Market Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset (Bridgwater Mercury)

26 October 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Trax (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

29-31 October 1968 – Rum Runner, Birmingham with Catz (Birmingham Evening Mail)

31 October 1968 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex

1 November 1968 – Bird Cage, Harlow, Essex with Chuck Jackson and Carla Thomas

2 November 1968 – Rawtenstall Baths, Rawtenstall, Lancashire

3 November 1968 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, south London (South East London Mercury)

5 November 1968 – Concord, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)

8 November 1968 – Public Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire with Inez & Charlie Foxx and The House of Orange Band (Derbyshire Times)

8 November 1968 – Arts-Tech Rag Ball, Nottingham with Charlie and Inez Foxx

9 November 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Generous Earth (Cambridgeshire Times)

14 November 1968 – Oak Leaf Hotel, South Bank (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

15-16 November 1968 – Scene Two, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News)

17 November 1968 – Tudor Club, Mercers Arms, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

22 November 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire

23 November 1968 – Odeon Manchester (or was this Manchester Free Trade Hall?) with Diana Ross & The Supremes and others

24 November 1968 – London Palladium, central London with Diana Ross & The Supremes and others

29 November 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

30 November 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Manchester Evening News)

1 December 1968 – Princes and Domino clubs, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News)

3 December 1968 – The Place Club, Henley, Berkshire (could this be the Place, Hanley, Staffordshire?)

6 December 1968 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)

7 December 1968 – Elms Court Ballroom, Botley, Oxford with Gentle Influence (Oxford Mail)

8 December 1968 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

9 December 1968 – Ramsgate Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent

10 December 1968 – Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen/Stroud News)

12 December 1968 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex

13 December 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

15 December 1968 – RAF Mildenhall

16 December 1968 – Tithe Farm, Harlow, Essex

19 December 1968 – South Dorset Technical College, Students’ Association, Weymouth Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset with Alan Bown (replaced Traffic) and The Package Deal (Dorset Evening Echo) Says backed by The Colourful Orange

20 December 1968 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester

21 December 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex

22 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London

23 December 1968 – Golden Torch, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

24 December 1968 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with The House of Orange, The Joyce Bond Show and Barley Mo (Reading Evening Post)

26 December 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire

27 December 1968 – New Market Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset

28 December 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Hideaways

29 December 1968 – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

30 December 1968 – Belfry Hotel, Wishaw, West Midlands

31 December 1968 – Morecambe Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire

At the outset of the 1969 tours, Peter Cole (known as ‘Spam’) the bass player from The Trend, who had recently disbanded, became The Fantastics’ road manager.

2 January 1969 – Sloopy’s, Middlesbrough

3 January 1969 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

4 January 1969 – Civic Hall, Winsford, Cheshire

5 January 1969 – New Revolution, Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham Evening Post)

5 January 1969 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

17 January 1969 – Birmingham’s first 1969 Extravaganza, Town Hall, Birmingham with Freddie Mack Show, The Locomotive, Ivan Chin Soul Band and Liz Christian

18 January 1969 – Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset

19 January 1969 – Surrey Oval Rooms, Kennington, south London

21 January 1969 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales

24 January 1969 – White Lion, Edgware, north London

25 January 1969 – Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

26 January 1969 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London

1 February 1969 – New Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, Lancashire and Bin Lid Club, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

2 February 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

7 February 1969 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham

14-15 February 1969 – Scene 2 Club, Scarborough

16 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London

22 February 1969 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend, Essex

23 February 1969 – Good Companion’s Hotel, Slough, Berkshire

3 March 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey

In early March, Roy St John-Foster, Keith Franklin and Brian Johnson all departed. Pip Williams, Freddie Tillyer and Ron Thomas brought in drummer James Smith from The Nashville Teens and organist Martin Woodward from Tapestry.

Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):

19 March 1969 – The Lyceum, the Strand, central London with The Move (debut show with new line up)

23 March 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London

Martin Woodward and Peter Cole remember playing the following venues but they can’t recall the dates:

Civic Hall, Winsford, Cheshire

400 Ballroom Torquay (at least twice)

Scene 2 Club, Scarborough (two or three times)

The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

Lyceum, Sheffield

Clouds, Derby

The Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, Birmingham

The Penthouse, Birmingham

The Starlite Ballroom, (Greenford?) west London

The Skyline, Hull

The U.S.A.F. Base Alconbury near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

The Dungeon, Nottingham

The Princess Theatre Club, Greater Manchester

The Domino Club, Greater Manchester

The King Mojo, Sheffield

Mecca, Derby (at least twice)

Mecca, Plymouth

Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

Dunstable (possibly California Ballroom)

Middlesbrough Showboat for a week plus one night stands

Middlesbrough City Hall (possibly with Three Dog Night)

Kenilworth Grange

Bolton Casino, Wigan Casino, Garrick Lea (for seven days)

Sheffield University for last two nights

April – US airbases in Frankfurt Germany and then to Zurich (Black Out club), Switzerland with Gun.

Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):

25 April 1969 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

26 April 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Candy Choir (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)

27 April 1969 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, south London (South East London Mercury)

18 May 1969 – Surrey Room, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury)

24 May 1969 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)

25 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez and Charlie Foxx, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

21 June 1969 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire (Retford Times)

29 June 1969 – Surrey Room, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury)

According to James Smith, The Fantastics had problems with UK work permits around this time and had to live and work outside of the UK for six months. While playing the US military air bases in and around Frankfurt Germany, Ron Thomas left later to play, most notably, with The Heavy Metal Kids.

Peter Cole, The Fantastics’ road manager (and known as “Spam”), who had started out as bass player with The Trend took over after playing rhythm guitar on the European gigs. The Trend had worked for the Roy Tempest Agency in the mid-1960s backing artists like The Drifters, Garnett Mimms and Ben E King, The Soul Sisters, Clyde McPhatter, The Flirtations (then The Fabulous Marvelettes), The Platters and Buddy Holly’s Crickets among others. When The Trend folded Spam became road manager for The Fantastics.

July 1969 – US airbases in Germany (Ron Thomas departs in Frankfurt)

Pip Williams, who wasn’t long married and needed to return home, left while the band was in Naples and returned home, subsequently joining Jimmy James & The Vagabonds. Pip Williams later became a top session player, working with producer Phil Wainman among others. Later on, he became a successful producer, and is best known for producing Status Quo and The Moody Blues.

Initially, Peter Cole’s former band mate from The Trend, Norman Cummins took over to play the US air base gigs in Naples and after a subsequent return to Frankfurt stayed to play in a club in Cannes. Cummins then departed and moved to South Africa.

The rest of the band travelled to Majorca where former Tony Knight’s Chessmen and Magicians guitarist Fred D’Albert was flown over to join the remaining backing group. D’Albert had also played with Smith backing a soul act in Essen, West Germany during mid-1968 (possibly Owen Grey).

Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):

July 1969 – NATO airbase in Naples, Italy (Pip Williams left and Norman Cummins joined as lead guitarist).

July – Frankfurt and then Cannes, France (Cummins leaves)

August 1969 – Sloopy’s, Palma, Majorca (for one month) (Fred D’Albert joins on guitar)

While in Majorca, the musicians met Tina (Christine Sykes) who danced with The House of Orange before The Fantastics came on stage. Tina at a later date joined up with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers. The musicians returned to the UK afterwards but eventually split up. It’s not clear whether they backed The Fantastics on a spring 1970 tour.  Fred D’Albert joined Sweetwater Canal in late 1969.

18 January 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with J J Jackson & The Greatest Little Band In The Land and The United Nations (Retford Times)

9 March 1970 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey with Booker T & The MGs, Johnnie Walker, The Globe Show and Blue Mink

13 March 1970 – Castle Soul Club, Tooting Broadway, southwest London

22 March 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with James & Bobby Purify, Edison’s Phonograph, The Globe Show and Midnight Express (Retford Times)

24 March 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

When the band folded in March 1970, Martin Woodward and James Smith formed Aquila who recorded a lone album. They then teamed up again in The Tommy Hunt Band. According to Woodward, The Fantastics tried to hire The Tommy Hunt Band but couldn’t afford them.

Peter Cole meanwhile replaced Philip Chen on bass in The Joyce Bond Review, who recorded an album, Winds of Change, as Joyce Bond and The Colour Supplement. Bond enjoyed number one hits in the West Indies on Island Records with “Do The Teasy” and a cover of The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da”.

One early morning Tina met Pete Cole in the M1 services The Blue Boar after a gig with Herbie Goins. He invited Tina to join the Colour Supplement who undertook a tour in the West Indies. British Guiana, Surinam and Barbados.

Gig sources include:

Fabulous 208 Magazine, Lincolnshire Standard, Melody Maker, Crawley Advertiser, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Birmingham Evening Mail, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Express & Star, Yorkshire Evening Post, Reading Evening Post

A huge thanks to Pip Williams, Martin Woodward, Ron Thomas, James Smith and Peter Cole for their help piecing the band history together. Thank you to Pip Williams for the Sovereigns photos and Peter Cole for the band images.

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