Born in Kingston, Jamaica on 5 July 1939, Owen Gray (aka Grey) is one of the true reggae and ska greats but was also the author of a handful of superb soul/mod 45s, recorded in the UK and France between 1965-1969.
Very little is known about this period and so we’d welcome any additional information that readers can provide in the comments section below, particularly around the recording of these individual singles, any unreleased recordings and the personnel on the tracks.
Owen arrived in England in May 1962 and was a prolific recording artist. Like Jimmy Cliff, he’s best known for his reggae recordings but he was an exceptionally gifted soul performer and worked with some top British musicians during the mid-to-late 1960s. His backing bands included The Sound System, The Krew, Tony Knight’s Chessmen and Maximum Breed.
His first venture into soul appears to have been with two singles on the small Aladdin label (see below).
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Released on 12 March 1965, Owen Gray’s “Gonna Work Out Fine” c/w “Dolly Baby”, was the first of two 45s on the label, the first produced by Denny Cordell.
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His second release “Lindy Lu” was backed by a great version of “Can I Get a Witness”, which has since become a Northern Soul favourite.
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In mid-to-late 1965, he moved labels and to Island Records for three singles. The first coupled “Shook, Shimmy & Shake” with “I’m Going Back” and was followed by “Paradise” c/w “Bye Bye Love”. Little is known about the background to both of these releases and the personnel on the recordings.
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Initially, the singer worked with The Soul Sets, including a gig at the Cue Club in early January 1966.
Photo: Melody Maker
However, in January/February 1966, Chris Blackwell linked Owen with west London Mod outfit, The Sound System.
Photo: Melody Maker
The band had morphed out of The All-Nite Workers and featured guitarist Tony St Clair; bass player Ron Thomas; keyboard player Mick Fletcher; sax players Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney; and drummer Phil Wainman, who later went on to produce The Sweet among others.
Together, they backed Owen on a lone 45, a rousing version of “You Don’t Know Like I Know” backed by “Take Me Serious”, which appears to have been penned by Ron Thomas, who later went on to work with The Heavy Metal Kids, among others.
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Owen Gray & The Sound System also gigged around the London club circuit in the first few months of 1966 before Blackwell linked them up with Jimmy Cliff and renamed them The New Generation. Later that year, the group became singer Gary Hamilton’s second version of The Hamilton Movement.
Photo: Melody Maker
Left without a band, Owen joined forces with The Krew who’d just lost their two lead singers Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo.
Led by scouser and future Wings sideman Howie Casey on sax, the group also featured fellow Liverpudlian Tommy Murray on lead guitar (who was later replaced by Ted Tunnicliffe); Glaswegian Archie Legget; Yorkshireman Eddie Sparrow on drums; and Londoner Alan Reeves on keyboards.
Photo: Alan Reeves. Left to right (back), Eddie Sparrow, Archie Legget, Howie Casey, Alan Reeves. Front, left to right: Owen Gray and Tommy Murray
Owen Gray and The Krew moved to France in April 1966 and played several clubs in the ski resorts, notably the Bus Palladium in Courcheval, before landing a residency at exclusive Paris nightclub Le Bilboquet.
While playing in Paris in July that year, the musicians recorded an EP for Barclay Records’ subsidiary label, Riviera, comprising popular soul covers and strong Owen Gray originals, “Everything’s Alright” and “Somebody Stole My Girl”.
However, by the end of 1966, Owen Gray was back in London and back on the soul circuit, playing the clubs that were popular with the burgeoning Caribbean community such as Paddington’s Cue Club.
Back on Island Records, he recorded one of his finest soul outings, the stupendous “Help Me” coupled with “Incense”, which were produced by Chris Blackwell and Jimmy Miller respectively.
Issued in January 1967, the single should have been a massive hit but inexplicably it failed to chart and is now a much sought-after collectors’ item.
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A few months later, Owen was back with another London band, this time Tony Knight’s Chessmen, led by drummer Tony Brown. The singer remained with the group until about September 1967.
During Owen’s time with The Chessmen, the musicians passing through included noted sax players Dave Coxhill and Stan Sulzmann and future John Mayall’s Bluesbreaker Keith Tillman.
Photo: Fred D’Albert. Left to right: Terry Ede, Dave Coxhill (hidden), Owen Gray, Tony Brown (hidden), Keith Tillman and Fred D’Albert in Italy.
In July 1967, the band travelled out to Italy to play the Piper Club in Viareggio.
Photo: Melody Maker, 1967
Little is known about his soul projects from this point on, although he did work with singers Ruby and Youth backed by The Shell Shock Show during late 1967 and early 1968.
However, during 1968, he started to do studio work on the Old Kent Road with producer David Hadfield.
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For the recordings, he was backed by Freddy Mack’s former band, The Mack Sound, who were going by the name Maximum Breed.
Future Butts Band and Gonzalez keyboard player Roy Davies was among the musicians in this talented band.
Several singles were issued during this period, including “Sitting in the Park” and “Dream Lover” but by now, Owen was starting to focus his efforts on the reggae audience.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Fabulous 208, July 1965, clockwise from top left: Brooker, Derrick, Wilson and Trower. Image may be subject to copyright
Formed in 1959, The Paramounts’ line-up comprised the following by late 1963:
Gary Brooker – keyboards/lead vocals
Robin Trower – lead guitar
Graham ‘Diz’ Derrick – bass
Barry J Wilson – drums
1962
5 May 1962 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald) Replaced Neil Christian & The Crusaders who cancelled
30 November 1963 – Ricky Tick, Reading St John Ambulance Hall, Reading, Berkshire (David Else’s research)
1964
19 January 1964 – Ricky Tick, Olympia Ballroom, Reading, Berkshire (David Else’s research)
22 January 1964 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with Denny Raven & The Sabres (North Norfolk News)
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The Middlesex Chronicle ran an article and photo (see above) on the band in its 31 January 1964 issue, page 2
21 February 1964 – Palace Dance Hall, Pier Hill, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
18 March 1964 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
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26 March 1964 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford (Gloucester Citizen)
29 March 1964 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with Danie Boone & The Emeralds (Aldershot News)
30 March 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Puppets and Margo & The Marvelletes (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
4 April 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Johnny & The Starliners (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
6 April 1964 – Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)
9 May 1964 – West Cliff Cavern, Ramsgate, Kent (East Kent Times)
15 May 1964 – Ricky-Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey (Aldershot News)
18 May 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Contrasts and The Deepbeats (Essex County Standard)
23 May 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Del Rio Four (East Kent Times)
5 June 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Demons and Chantons (Streatham News)
13 June 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks with Jeannie & The Diamonds (Bletchley District Gazette)
14 June 1964 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with Ricky & The Gamblers (Newbury Weekly News)
4 July 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Phil & The Stormsville Shakers (Surrey Advertiser)
10 July 1964 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with Kerry Rapid & The Seltones (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
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16 July 1964 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex with The Kinks and The Creatures (Worthing Gazette) This Worthing Herald (below pic) lists The Preachers instead of The Creatures
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24 July 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Basildon, Essex with Manfred Mann and The Monotones (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
22 August 1964 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express)
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4 September 1964 – Greenwich Town Hall, Greenwich, London with The Renegades (South East London Mercury)
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6 September 1964 – ABC Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Freddie & The Dreamers, Barry St John, Tom Jones & The Playboys, The Rustiks and Clifford Davis (Eastern Evening News)
10 September 1964 – Modern Jazz Studio, Westcliffe, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
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11 September 1964 – Ilford Town Hall, Ilford, east London with The Coronets and The Marvettes (Ilford & Redbridge Recorder)
25 September 1964 – The Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with Alexis Korner’s Blues Inc (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
27 September 1964 – Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool, Lancashire with The Kinks, Marianne Faithful, Jerry Stevens, The Quotations, The Puppets and The Rustiks (Poster from Mick Downer)
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3 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Loose Ends (Cambridge News)
10 October 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald) The group replaced The Herd
Around this time B J Wilson left to join Jimmy Powell’s Five Dimensions and Phil Wainman joined beating Mick Underwood to the job. Wainman had recently returned from Sweden where he’d played with British band, The Hi-Grades
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31 October 1964 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with The Preachers (Eastern Evening News)
7 November 1964 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Bobby Leroy & The Freeman (Cambridgeshire Times)
20 November 1964 – Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Pagans (Bucks Advertiser)
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10 December 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with top supporting group (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
17 December 1964 – Modern Jazz Studio, Westcliffe, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
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20 December 1964 – Alley Club, Cambridge (Cambridge News)
1965
2 January 1965 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The King Bees (Surrey Advertiser)
14 January 1965 – R&B Studio, Westcliffe, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
21 January 1965 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The King Bees (Surrey Advertiser)
31 January 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with Daniel & The Emeralds (Aldershot News)
According to Ron Wood’s book ‘How Can I Be? A Rock & Roll Diary’, Phil Wainman deputised for Pete McDaniels in The Birds for a gig at London Polytechnic on 6 February 1965
11 February 1965 – R&B Studio, Westcliffe, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
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14 February 1965 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with The Statesmen (North Norfolk News)
27 February 1965 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw, The Barron Knights, The Roulettes, Freddie Searle and Patrick Kerr (Dorset Evening Echo)
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3 March 1965 – Granada, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw, The Barron Knights and The Roulettes (Woking Herald)
7 March 1965 – Walthamstow Guardian, Walthamstow, north London with Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw, The Barron Knights, The Roulettes, Patrick Kerr and Freddie Earle (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian)
Around this time B J Wilson returned to the band. Wainman later became a noted producer but spent the mid-late 1960s backing Jimmy Cliff with The New Generation, playing with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement and then working with The Quotations, supporting Jack Hammer
27 March 1965 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Tributes and The Aarons (Warrington Guardian)
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8 April 1965 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants (Southern Echo)
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11 April 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, East Dereham, Norfolk with The Rocking Roosters (Lynn News)
17 April 1965 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with The Searchers (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
19 April 1965 – Studio, Westcliffe, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
21 April 1965 – Studio, Westcliffe, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
22 April 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
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30 April 1965 – Haslemere Hall, Haslemere, Surrey with Chic Henderson (Farnham Herald)
6 May 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
10 May 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London with Poison Ivy (Dorothy Bullock list) This could be another year
14 May 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
20 May 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
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21 May 1965 – Beat Room, South Benfleet, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
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28 May 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with The Ray Martin Group (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
29 May 1965 – Princess Ballroom, Halifax, West Yorkshire with The Misfits (Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian)
2 June 1965 – TA Centre, Andover, Hampshire with The Men Friday (Andover Advertiser)
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16 June 1965 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Orchestra and Barry Noble & The Sapphires (Cambridge News)
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16 July 1965 – Tarpots Public House, Benfleet, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
23 July 1965 – Tarpots Public House, Benfleet, Essex (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
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20 August 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
28 August 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Cortinas (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
4 September 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
4 September 1965 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Mob (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
9 September 1965 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon) They backed Sandie Shaw
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24 September 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Basildon, Essex with The Transalantics and The Pentads (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
27 November 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sandie Shaw, The Quiet Five and The Basic Five (Lincolnshire Standard)
24 December 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Boyfriend magazine)
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24 December 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with The Orioles (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
31 December 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
4 April 1966 – Town Hall, Bridgwater, Somerset (Trend & Boyfriend)
22 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
23 April 1966 – Farnborough Technical College Students’ Union, Farnborough, Hampshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Aldershot News)
Photo: John Treais
24 April 1966 – Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey (Poster from John Treais)
27 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
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29 April 1966 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with The Fugitives (Southend Standard)
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30 April 1966 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Jeff & The Exiles (Hertfordshire Express)
14 May 1966 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks with The Cherries (Buckinghamshire Advertiser)
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14 May 1966 – Starlight Club, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
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21 May 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
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22 May 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Sullivan James Band (North Norfolk News)
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30 May 1966 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Quiet Five and Marvin Lois Enterprise (Essex County Standard)
11 June 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Cryin’ Shames, The Dyaks and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)
19 June 1966 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Soul Seekers (Express & Star)
25 June 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Band, Wainwright’s Gentlemen, Mood Indigo and The Astrobeats (Cambridge News)
26 June 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)
In late June/early July Robin Trower left to form his own group, The Jam and Martin Shaw joined on guitar from Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound
Saxophone player Jimmy Jewell, who played with Martin Shaw in Freddie Mack’s band joins The Paramounts for a short German tour backing singer Chris Andrews but leaves after it’s completed
30 September 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
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7-8 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (London Life)
29 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (London Life)
4 November 1966 – University of Warwick, Coventry with Cream (Poster)
The Paramounts split in November 1966 and B J Wilson briefly joined George Bean & The Runners before joining Freddie Mack and The Mack Sound before the year was out. He then worked with Sands before he reunited with Brooker and Trower in Procol Harum in June 1967
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.
Sam and Bill, Record Mirror
“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.
Melody Maker, 11 November 1967
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.
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
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)
The Scotch of St James, situated at 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair, London was a notable music venue in the 1960s and a popular hang out for rock musicians, notably The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Jimi Hendrix also made his first UK appearance at the Scotch in September 1966.
Scotch of St James, 31 December 2023
The Scotch of St James was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find confirmed gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue/posters of advertised gigs/photos of bands who appeared there (all credited accordingly).
This exclusive Mayfair establishment was primarily a late night members club with gambling but did put on live music occasionally (see The Stormsville Shakers gigs immediately below). It was officially opened as a late night club offering regular live music from 14 July 1965.
1965
Drummer Tony Richard says that his band The Fetish Crowd played at the Scotch of St James, which would have been the 1965-1966 period.
Singer James Nairn (aka James Royal) notes that his bands James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set both performed at the club.
Phillip Goodhand-Tait kept diaries from 1961 onward and notes that his band The Stormsville Shakers were paid to play the Scotch on the above date. They arrived at 7.30pm and finished at 2am on the Saturday morning after playing three spots of 35 minutes. They were re-booked at the Scotch for the two dates below.
According to London Life magazine’s 9-15 October issue, The Marionettes were the resident band during this week. They were also listed for 16-22 October, 23-29 October and 30 October-5 November.
The Krew (who backed Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo) played at the Scotch of St James around the middle-to-end of the first week of November, according to keyboardist Alan Reeves’ book. The Krew featured sax player Howie Casey who later did sessions for Paul McCartney & Wings.
9 November (Tuesday) – Wilson Pickett (backed either by The Links or The Maroons) with The Krew (Alan Reeves’s book Sex, Booze & Blues)
Bruno Ceriotti says that Wilson Pickett’s guitarist Jimmy Owen was joined by three members of The Animals.
3 December/4 December (Friday/Saturday) – The Krew (an advert in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette has the band playing at Kirklevington Country Club on Sunday, 5 December and says the band came direct from the Scotch Club)
8 December (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Record Mirror)
21 December (Tuesday) – Joe Tex (Melody Maker)
Record Mirror lists the Joe Tex gig as 16 December.
1966
Sometime during January 1966, The Krew backed US soul singer Fontella Bass for one night, according to Alan Reeves’s book Sex, Booze & Blues.
5 January (Wednesday) – Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)
Bluesology’s keyboard player was Reg Dwight, who became famous as Elton John.
11 January (Tuesday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)
3 February (Thursday) – Stevie Wonder (probably backed by The Sidewinders) (Melody Maker)
According to an advert in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette for a show at the Kirklevington Country Club on 13 February, it says The Gass were residents at the Scotch of St James around this time.
According to the South East London Mercury, The Loose Ends began playing at the Scotch of St James three times a week for three months in the week starting 21 February (see clipping above).
The Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser lists a gig for The Manchester Playboys at the Club Creole in Wilmslow, Cheshire on 25 February 1966 and says the band are direct from the Scotch of St James.
30 March (Wednesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary)
Melody Maker and Record Mirror both report that Martha & The Vandellas played at the Scotch of St James on 30 March.
1 April (Friday) – Episode Six (audition) (Brian Long’s research)
According to London Life magazine from 14-20 May, the three resident bands for this week were The VIPs, Gass and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)
20 May (Friday) – Ben E King (London Life magazine)
According to London Life magazine for the week 28 May to 3 June, the three resident bands for this week were The VIPs, Gass and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)
The same magazine notes that the three resident bands for the week 11-17 June were The VIPs, The Loose Ends and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)
26 June (Sunday) – The Loose Ends (Fabulous 208)
This may be July not June so needs confirmation. However, The Loose Ends played in Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday, 25 June according to the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette and the advert notes they came from the Scotch of St James so it’s possible they played the week leading up to 25 June.
7 July (Thursday) – Norma Tanega (Record Mirror)
26 July (Tuesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
29 July (Friday) – Joe Tex (London Life magazine)
According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends, together with The VIPs and The Paramounts were the three resident bands playing at the Scotch of St James during the week 30 July to 5 August.
10 August (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Guster says that Alan Price invited him to join his band at this gig.
The Westminster & Pimlico News’ 12 August 1966 issue notes that Gass played the club 6-7 nights a week around this time.
18 September (Sunday) – The Vibrations (needs source and confirmation but probably Melody Maker)
22 September (Thursday) – Jimi Hendrix solo (needs source and confirmation)
Apparently on the evening he’d arrived in the UK, Jimi Hendrix played a couple of songs as a solo act at the club.
23 September (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
24 September (Saturday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
26 September (Monday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
Jimi Hendrix sat in with The VIPs on 26 September – see Terry Ellis comment in the comments section below.
27 September (Tuesday) – The VIPs (needs confirmation)
28 September (Wednesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)
Guitarist Vic Briggs says that Chas Chandler and Jimi Hendrix came into the Scotch of St James and sat in with the band. Brian Auger invited the American guitarist to sit in with the band at Blaises the following night, 29 September.
30 September (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
The Derby Evening Telegraph’s 1 October 1966 issue notes that Pepper’s Machine played the club recently.
3 October (Monday) – The Raylettes (London Life magazine)
7 October (Friday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)
Robin Trower had left The Paramounts in late June/early July and formed The Jamm, so Martin Shaw (no relation to the actor) was on lead guitar.
8 October (Saturday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)
13 October (Thursday) – The Trend (London Life magazine)
14 October (Friday) – The Trend (London Life magazine)
15 October (Saturday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
17 October (Monday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
18 October (Tuesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
19 October (Wednesday) – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jams with Cream (needs source and confirmation)
It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Scotch of St James on 19 October (the alternative location was the Cromwellian). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream were playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham on this day.
According to London Life magazine, Tony & The Defenders played at the Scotch of St James during the week 22-28 October.
24 October (Monday) – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Guests) (London Life magazine)
29 October (Saturday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)
This was one of the band’s final gigs before splitting in November 1966. Gary Brooker formed Procol Harum the following spring.
31 October (Monday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (London Life magazine)
1 November (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (London Life magazine)
2 November (Wednesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
3 November (Thursday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
4 November (Friday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
5 November (Saturday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)
11 November (Friday) – Ben E King (London Life magazine)
18 November (Friday) – The Impressions (London Life magazine)
The Impressions featured future soul star Curtis Mayfield.
According to Disc & Music Echo on 26 November, Deep Feeling made their debut at the Scotch of St James around the week starting 21 November. Chris Curtis, Giorgio Gomelsky, Robert Stigwood, Speedy Acquaye and Beryl Marsden were among the guests.
According to Melody Maker, Bobby Darin sat in with Deep Feeling around early-to-mid December and played the drums.
London Life magazine reports that The Checkmates played at the Scotch of St James during the week 3-9 December.
The Manchester Independent notes that Manchester band The Powerhouse played at the venue during December.
7 December (Wednesday) – The Vibrations (London Life magazine)
8 December (Thursday) – The Young Rascals (Disc & Music Echo)
The magazine reports that Paul McCartney, Chas Chandler, Eric Burdon, Keith Moon, Brian Epstein and Bill Wyman are among the guests.
13 December (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)
14 December (Wednesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)
15 December (Thursday) – Bobby Hebb (Record Mirror)
The magazine says that Bobby Hebb came on at 1am. This is confirmed by London Life magazine, which notes the 14 December so it looks like Hebb came on stage after The Brian Auger Trinity had finished. Future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper was in his backing band.
19 December (Monday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)
20 December (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)
21 December (Wednesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
22 December (Thursday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
23 December (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
24 December (Saturday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (London Life magazine)
28 December (Wednesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
29 December (Thursday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)
31 December (Saturday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Disc & Music Echo and London Life magazine)
1967
Guitarist Doug Ayers says that The All Night Workers played at the Scotch of St James (most likely in early 1967).
Jim Cregan, guitarist with Blossom Toes, remembers playing at the club and The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were there on the same night to catch his band performing.
Drummer Chris Hunt says The Good Time Losers played the club in the first half of 1967.
Tony Glyde remembers playing at the Scotch of St James with Simon K & The Meantimers in 1967-1968.
2 February (Thursday) – Edwin Starr (Evening Standard)
The Loose Ends were playing at the venue in late March/early April when the Stax-Volt show tour came in. This is where Otis Redding picked up singers Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and took them back to the US to record tracks at Fame Studios during June.
23 April (Sunday) – The Wages of Sin (Melody Maker)
28 April (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
Drummer Phil Wainman, who went on to produce The Sweet, remembers playing the club in May 1967 with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers.
Keyboard player Mick Ketley says The Motivation/Penny Peeps played at the Scotch of St James on two occasions which would have been from May 1967 onwards.
7 May (Sunday) – The Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)
The Loose Ends were performing at the Scotch of St James in early June 1967 when former Ram Jam guitarist Pete Gage brought singer Kenny Bernard into see the musicians. This led to the formation of Cats Pyjamas with some of the group members.
16 June (Friday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)
The Manchester Playboys performed at the Scotch of St James and July seems the most likely period as they were in London gigging. Also Peter Simensky, who had joined the band recently, was a member at the time and he recalls singer Billie Davis working at the Scotch at the time.
Frank Torpey, who was lead guitarist with London band, The Tribe (and would go on to become the original lead guitarist in The Sweet), says that when the group was playing regular Saturday nights at the Marquee in Wardour Street between July-September, the Marquee’s owner John Gee would get a call from the Scotch of St James asking what band was on and would they like to double up? He says The Tribe always said yes as it was a great top up. Torpey adds that they never had another band on with them. He thinks they may have played at the Scotch maybe three or four times.
It sounds like The Tribe may have played the Scotch in the early hours of the Sunday morning after finishing up at the Marquee but this would need confirmation.
This insight is interesting as it might mean other groups that played the Marquee went on and played the Scotch of St James after finishing up.
1 July (Saturday) – The Tribe (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
The Tribe (which changed name to The Dream in late August 1967) played at the Marquee every Saturday from 1 July to 30 September according to Tony Bacon’s excellent book on the London music scene and its Marquee listings, so it’s impossible to know what Saturday evenings/early Sunday mornings The Tribe went on to play at the Scotch of St James afterwards. It’s also quite possible that the other band sharing the billing at the Marquee with The Tribe may have been asked as well (see Torpey’s recollections above).
7 July (Friday) – Vince Edwards (Fabulous 208)
8 July (Saturday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)
1 August (Tuesday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Timebox played at the Scotch of St James during August 1967. They had a Tuesday night gig at the Marquee so possibly played afterwards. Former Felders Orioles drummer John Halsey advertised in Melody Maker for a new band on Thursday, 17 August and auditioned with Timebox shortly afterwards at the Scotch.
29 August (Tuesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
According to the poster below for the Gloucester YMCA, The Official Receivers played at the Scotch of St James around October 1967.
31 October (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website and Disc & Music Echo)
1 November (Wednesday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website – see above)
2 November (Thursday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
3 November (Friday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
4 November (Saturday) – Mud (Melody Maker)
6 November (Monday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.
7 November (Tuesday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.
8 November (Wednesday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.
9 November (Thursday) – Ben E King (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
10 November (Friday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.
11 November (Saturday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
13 November (Monday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
14 November (Tuesday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
15 November (Wednesday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
16 November (Thursday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
17 November (Friday) – Mud (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
18 November (Saturday) – Mud (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
20 November (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
21 November (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
22 November (Wednesday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
23 November (Thursday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
24 November (Friday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
25 November (Saturday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
27 November (Monday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
28 November (Tuesday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
29 November (Wednesday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
30 November (Thursday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)
30 December (Saturday) – Kaleidoscope (Melody Maker)
1968
Iain Pitwell, Brian Mansell and Geoff Glover confirm that The All Night Workers played at the Scotch of St James regularly during the 1968-1969 period.
Mo Umansky says his band Mr Mo’s Messengers played at the venue, most likely in 1968.
26 January (Friday) – The Magic Roundabout (audition) (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)
3 February (Saturday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
6 February (Tuesday) – James & Bobby Purify (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
8 February (Thursday) – Edwin Starr (New Musical Express)
According to Melody Maker, Rupert’s People played at the Scotch of St James around the week starting 19 February.
27 February (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker)
According to Melbourne music magazine, Go-Set, Australian band The Groop played the Scotch of St James between early March and mid-April.
8 March (Friday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
23 March (Saturday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
4 April (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
1 May (Wednesday) – Ike & Tina Turner and Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
2 May (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
9 May (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
16 May (Thursday) – Edwin Starr & The State Express (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
20 May (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
5 June (Tuesday) – The Coasters (New Musical Express)
17 June (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
18 June (Tuesday) – Ruby & The Romantics (New Musical Express)
30 June (Sunday) – The Crystals (New Musical Express)
16 July (Tuesday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
20 July (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
3 August (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)
5 August (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
6 August (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
Rose’s gig was cancelled.
13 August (Tuesday) – Elmer Gantry (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
19 August (Monday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
21 August (Wednesday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
22 August (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
26 August (Monday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
7 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)
10 September (Tuesday) – Ben E King (New Musical Express)
14 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)
27 September (Friday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)
28 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)
16 October (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
The New Musical Express lists Brook Benton for the 16 October.
12 November (Tuesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
18 November (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
28 November (Thursday) – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker)
12 December (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
17 December (Tuesday) – Bandwagon (New Musical Express)
18 December (Wednesday) – The Barrier (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
1969
Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott confirms that Gass played the Scotch of St James during the 1969-1970 period.
21 January (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
31 January (Friday) – The N’ Betweens (later became Slade) (Don Powell’s website)
24 February (Monday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker)
New Musical Express reports that Ben E King is backed by Chris Shakespeare Globe Show for his UK tour in February 1969.
10 March (Monday) – The Tymes (Melody Maker)
29 March (Saturday) – Ben E King (Time Out)
14 April (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Fabulous 208)
21 April (Monday) – Turnstyle and Steamhammer (Fabulous 208)
19 May (Monday) – Bob & Earl (John Warburg research)
21 July (Monday) – Jimmy Ruffin with Sweet Blindness (New Musical Express)
25 August (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Time Out)
1 September (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
4 September (Thursday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)
8 September (Monday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)
9 September (Tuesday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)
11 September (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
1970
28 January (Wednesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)
28 October (Wednesday) – Tear Gas (Melody Maker)
29 October (Thursday) – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
5 November (Thursday) – Legend (Melody Maker)
6 November (Friday) – Charge (Melody Maker)
7 November (Saturday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)
8 November (Sunday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)
9 November (Monday) – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)
Ted Hare’s gig diary for bands he managed, including Calum Bryce, have this group listed at the Scotch of St James on 10 November not the 9 November so possible there is a mistake here.
10 November (Tuesday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)
12 November (Thursday) – Fairfield Parlour (Melody Maker)
13 November (Friday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)
14 November (Saturday) – Renea (Melody Maker)
16 November (Monday) – UFO (Melody Maker)
17 November (Tuesday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)
18 November (Wednesday) – Bubastis (Melody Maker)
19 November (Thursday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)
20 November (Friday) – Mataya (Melody Maker)
23 November (Monday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)
24 November (Tuesday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)
25 November (Wednesday) – Aquila (Melody Maker)
26 November (Thursday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)
27 November (Friday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)
30 November (Monday) – Nick Twilley (Melody Maker)
1 December (Tuesday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)
2 December (Wednesday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)
1971
15 April (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
6 May (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)
Located at 3 Cromwell Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, SW7, the Cromwellian Club was a notable London rock venue that was opened in late 1964 by entrepreneur Tony Mitchell and part owned and managed by Bob Archer, who later established the Pantiles club in Bagshot, Surrey. The club’s opening was reported in The Stage in its 8 October 1964 issue.
Brian Auger who played here with The Trinity claims that the Cromwellian is where Jimi Hendrix first jammed with his band after arriving in London in late September 1966, although others point to the Scotch of St James.
At its height in 1966-1967, it also hosted numerous jam sessions, featuring the likes of Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry, Eric Burdon and Eric Clapton among others.
Like other exclusive clubs like Blaises and the Scotch of St James, the entrance fee was expensive and therefore catered less for music fans and more for the celebrities of the day and wealthy clientele.
The Cromwellian 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).
1965
Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1965-1966:
Singer Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says that James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set played there throughout this period.
Tony Richard who drummed and sang with The Fetish Crowd says that his group performed there during 1965-1966.
Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Just Four, which became The Guests, played at the venue in 1965-1966.
Guitarist/singer Stuart Cowell says he was working with Ralph Denyer’s Rockhouse Band when they performed at the Cromwellian in late 1965 before he left to join Gass.
Ray Lovegrove, who DJ’d at the venue, remembers seeing Stevie Wonder and also The Groundhogs at the club during 1965 when he was there. However, the Stevie Wonder gig could have been 26 January 1966 (see below).
The following list for 1965 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
Photo: Melody Maker
1 April 1965 (Thursday) – The Drifters (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker, 10 April 1965
5 June 1965 (Saturday) – The Soul Sisters (Melody Maker)
8 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Donnie Elbert (Melody Maker)
15 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Solomon Burke (Melody Maker)
23 June 1965 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Melody Maker)
Photo; Melody Maker
13 July 1965 (Tuesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)
23 July 1965 (Friday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)
London Life magazine for the week 9-15 October, and for subsequent issues running to December 1966 when it closed, notes that several groups played each week.
20 October 1965 (Wednesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
28 October 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
Photo: West Surrey Advertiser
Boz & The Boz People played at the Cromwellian sometime before 4 November, according to the West Surrey Advertiser (see pic)
4 November 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
11 November 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
2 December 1965 (Thursday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Record Mirror)
9 December 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
10 December 1965 (Friday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
13 December 1965 (Monday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)
14 December 1965 (Tuesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)
15 December 1965 (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Record Mirror)
16 December 1965 (Thursday) – Bluesology (Melody Maker)
Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.
Photo: Record Mirror
20 December 1965 (Monday) – Joe Tex (Record Mirror)
1966
Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1966:
Keyboard player Stan Marut, who worked with Julian Covey & The Machine from late 1965-mid-1966 says the group had a regular Saturday night residency at the club in early 1966 (and also possibly late 1965 when John McVie was briefly a member when Jack Bruce filled his spot in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers). He remembers Sands were playing at the venue around the same time.
According to Chris Groom’s excellent book “Rockin’ and Around Croydon”, Croydon group The Kingpins played at the Cromwellian in early 1966.
Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Guests played at the venue during 1966 (possibly with The Shevelles).
Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says The James Royal Set played at the club this year.
Guitarist Frank Torpey, who later became an original member of The Sweet, confirms his group The Tribe played at the Cromwellian (most likely this year and possibly also 1967).
Guitarist Jim Cregan says that Blossom Toes performed at the venue (but this might have been 1967).
Ray Brown, who played bass with Jeff Curtis & The Flames from mid-1965 to late 1967 when they became The Kool, says that the band played at the Cromwellian a few times, most likely in 1966 (but also possibly early 1967).
Drummer Rocky Browne confirms that The Summer Set had a weekly residence at the Cromwellian during 1966.
Drummer Tony Richard says The Fetish Crowd played at the club during 1966.
The following list for 1966 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
4 January 1966 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
11 January 1966 (Tuesday) – Pattie La Belle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)
Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.
13 January 1966 (Thursday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror originally billed this show for 19 January.
19 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror also listed this for 31 January so this may not have happened. Dorsey was most likely backed by The Krew featuring sax player Howie Casey. I also have The Sidewinders, so probably shared. They were back the following Wednesday to back Stevie Wonder.
26 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Stevie Wonder (Record Mirror)
Stevie Wonder was backed by The Sidewinders (confirmed by drummer Malcolm Penn).
31 January 1966 (Monday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)
Lee Dorsey was most certainly backed by The Krew.
5 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
This was 2-6am on the Sunday morning after a show at the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill on the Saturday night. Chase says The Searchers came in and watched them.
9 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror lists Rufus Thomas for 16 February. Steampacket did perform at the Cromwellian and it’s possible that Rufus Thomas shared the billing. Rod Stewart co-fronted Steampacket with Long John Baldry and Julie Driscoll.
19 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
23 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)
25 February 1966 (Friday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)
2 March 1966 (Wednesday) – Solomon Burke (Record Mirror)
3 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)
Future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were members.
5 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)
10 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)
12 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)
19 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)
Cromwellian, London, March 1966. Photo: Melody Maker
26 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (Melody Maker)
1 April 1966 (Friday) – The Sidewinders (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)
5 May 1966 (Thursday) – Betty Everett (Record Mirror)
Christopher Hjort’s excellent book “Strange Brew: Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970” notes that Eric Clapton attended the Cromwellian on 9 May after a gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
The 9 May marks the inception of SLAGS (Society of Looning Alcoholic Guitarists) whose members include Jeff Beck, Stevie Winwood, Vic Briggs, Pete Townshend, Steve Marriott, Andy Somers, Alan Roskams and Dave Wendels. The members will meet regularly at the Cromwellian.
In early June Melody Maker prints a “Guide to Good Raving” which lists the “in” clubs of the London scene. The Cromwellian is featured and the magazine notes that Gary Farr & The T-Bones, The Mark Leeman Five, Dave Anthony’s Moods, The Shevelles, Sands and The Peter B’s (actually The Shotgun Express) have recently played at the venue (performing until 2am).
10 June 1966 (Friday) – Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Five Proud Walkers who play at the Beachcomber Club on 18 June came from the Cromwellian.
According to the Southern Evening Echo (Southampton), The Move, who play the Adam & Eve in Southampton on 12 July, came from the Cromwellian (see above)
According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Cromwellians who play at the Beachcomber Club on 23 July came from the Cromwellian.
Photo: London Life magazine
27 July 1966 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)
The Eyes of Blue, who have won Melody Maker’s National Beat Contest, celebrate with a party at the club on 7 August. Eric Clapton, Alan Price, Chris Farlowe and others attend.
According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Coletrane Union, who play at the Britannia Rowing Club on 13 August came from the Cromwellian
According to this Moody Blues site, John Lodge’s band The Question were regulars at the Cromwellian during August/September 1966 before he took up the bass slot in The Moody Blues in October.
31 August 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
20 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)
Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but the gigs in September are Tuesday nights.
21 September 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
27 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)
According to this site, Brian Auger was playing at the Cromwellian on a Friday night and had invited Jimi Hendrix to sit in with his band at this venue earlier in the week. Auger insists that this was the first place that Hendrix jammed with his band.
However, Auger did play at Blaises on Thursday, 29 September and Hendrix did sit in on that occasion, having arrived in the UK on Thursday, 22 September. According to Vic Briggs (and other sources), Hendrix also turned up and jammed with the band at the Scotch of St James on Wednesday, 28 September.
8 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
11 October 1966 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)
It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Cromwellian on 19 October (the alternative location was the Scotch of St James). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream are playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham this evening.
22 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
2 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
Photo: London Life magazine
16 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
18 November 1966 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 26 November issue, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler and Bill Wyman attended the club on this date.
30 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
According to Bruno Ceriotti, Bluesology (featuring Reg Dwight aka Elton John) played at the Cromwellian regularly during December 1966, which is where Long John Baldry saw them and took them on as his new backing group.
7 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
14 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
According to Disc & Music Echo, The Magic Lanterns visited the club the week starting 19 December but it is not clear whether they performed or just attended.
24 December 1966 (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
1967
According to Disc & Music Echo, Ray Hunter and Paul Lincoln, who had previously run The Two I’s Coffee Bar in Soho, co-ran the Cromwellian this year.
Rob Tolchard says his band Sands played the Cromwellian in January where they were spotted by Brian Epstein who hired them for his Saville Theatre show on 5 February.
Bass player Bruce Usherwood says The Warren Davis Monday Band performed at the venue several times between December 1966 and February 1967 just before they signed with Columbia Records.
The Warren Davis Monday Band’s guitarist Rob Walker concurs and notes that one of the gigs was when the band was called The Boardwalkers.
Disc & Music Echo, 14 January 1967 issue, talks about Georgie Fame’s fiancé Carmen’s 21st birthday fancy dress party, which was held at the venue on 8 January. The guests include Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Georgie Fame.
The following list for 1967 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
17 January 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
28 January 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
Disc & Music Echo reported that Del Shannon, Johnny Rivers, Edwin Starr and Dave Davies of The Kinks were guests at the club during the week starting 30 January.
According to Martyn Hanson’s excellent book Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice, Lee Jackson was part of the house band at the Cromwellian, The House of Usher during February and March 1967.
2 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
6 February 1967 (Monday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)
9 February 1967 (Thursday) – Long John Baldry & Bluesology (Fabulous 208)
11 February 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
Bobby King & The Sabres perform from 2am to 6am after playing at the Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London on the Saturday night, so this would probably be the early hours of the Sunday, 12 February.
20 February 1967 (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)
23 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
25 February 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
The Good Time Losers had a residency at the club around about now, according to Melody Maker. Disc & Music Echo reported that they were managed by the club. Pretty certain it was a Saturday but needs confirmation.
4 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
11 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
18 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
25 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)
3 April 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
8 April 1967 (Saturday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Disc & Music Echo)
12 April 1967 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Disc & Music Echo)
Disc & Music Echo report that Tom Jones attended. This may have been 5 April so needs confirmation
14 April 1967 (Friday) – Motivation with The James Garnet Soul and Roll Band (Swindon Advertiser) (cancelled)
Motivation (featuring future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre) are advertised to play the venue. Keyboard player Mick Ketley says they did play the Cromwellian. However, sax player Chris Rodger confirms they were in Italy until mid-May before returning home so this didn’t happen.
16 April 1967 (Sunday) – Disc and Music Echo says that The Bee Gees hold a reception at the club today
18 April 1967 (Tuesday) – Bo Diddley with The Canadians (Melody Maker)
The Canadians feature future producer and music executive David Foster on keyboards.
Disc & Music Echo’s 22 April issue says that US actress Jayne Mansfield attended the Cromwellian the previous Tuesday but the date might have been 11 April instead.
Drummer Phil Wainman, who later produced The Sweet and was playing with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers in May 1967, says Jack Hammer played at the club, which would have most likely been this month.
1 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Melody Maker, Fabulous 208 and Disc & Music Echo)
4 May 1967 (Thursday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)
8 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Record Mirror)
Photo: Melody Maker
15 May 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
17 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
22 May 1967 (Monday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
24 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
26 May 1967 (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
27 May 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
29 July 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
31 July 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
9 August 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
According to Disc & Music Echo’s 16 September issue, Long John Baldry keeps fit by running up the club’s stairs. Does this imply that he performed here with Bluesology during September?
1968
Guitarist/singer Paul Brett says that he played this venue during 1968, which was probably with Tintern Abbey but could have been with Elmer Gantry and/or Fire.
Drummer Paul Maher says that Jo Jo Gunne performed at the venue (possibly this year and/or 1969).
The following list for 1968 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions.
Judging by the dates below in January and February, it looks like jazz bands played on Mondays.
4 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 4 January.
8 January 1968 (Monday) – Bill Nile’s Delta Jazzmen (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
10 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)
11 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
12 January 1968 (Friday) – Garnet Mimms (Melody Maker)
15 January 1968 (Monday) – The Red Onion Jazz Band (Melody Maker)
17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
18 January 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
19 January 1968 (Friday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
22 January 1968 (Monday) – Ken Colyer’s Jazzmen (Melody Maker)
23 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
24 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
25 January 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker and Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
26 January 1968 (Friday) – Jigsaw (Melody Maker)
29 January 1968 (Monday) – Spencer’s Washboard Kings (Melody Maker)
30 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)
31 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Wee Willie Harris and The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
1 February 1968 (Thursday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)
Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 1 February.
2 February 1968 (Friday) – Clyde McPhatter and The Trend (Melody Maker)
5 February 1968 (Monday) – Alex Welsh & His Jazz Band (Melody Maker)
6 February 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)
23 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
24 August 1968 (Saturday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)
27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
28 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
30 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
31 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
6 September 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
Photo: Melody Maker
7 September 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
14 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
16 September 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
17 September 1968 (Tuesday) – Little John & The Shaddocks (Melody Maker)
18 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
19 September 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Melody Maker and Mike Eastman’s gig diary)
21 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
19 October 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
16 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
21 November 1968 (Thursday) – The Nite People (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
19 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
1969
Sax player Geoff Glover says his band The All Night Workers played at the Cromwellian when Clyde Barrow took over lead vocals from Iain Pitwell, which would have been from early 1969.
Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott says that his band Gass played here during 1969/1970.
The following list for 1969 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:
20 January 1969 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
8 February 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
1 March 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
3 November 1969 (Monday) – Sky (Melody Maker)
10 November 1969 (Monday) – She Trinity (Melody Maker)
Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement, clockwise from front: Ron Thomas, Mick Fletcher, Gary Hamilton, Tony Sinclair, Mel Wayne, Dave Mahoney and (sitting down) Phil Wainman. All except Gary Hamilton (and John Droy, not in photo) were in The New Generation (version 2) backing Jimmy Cliff.
Jamaican reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is best known to international audiences for the songs “Sitting in Limbo”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “Many Rivers to Cross”, taken from the 1972 soundtrack album The Harder They Come. One of the first artists to introduce reggae to a wider audience, Cliff started performing in his native Jamaica during the early 1960s where he was spotted by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who brought him to England in October/November 1965.
Over the next four years, Cliff worked the UK club scene with a series of backing groups – The New Generation, The Sound System, Dave Anthony’s Moods, The Soul System (aka The Attack), The Shakedown Sound (December 1966-February 1968) and The Wynder K Frog Band, playing a mixture of soul and R&B.
Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation
(November 1965-February 1966)
Jimmy Cliff – lead vocals Dave Pegg – lead guitar Graham Gallery – bass Dave Brown – organ Frank Devine – drums Ayshea Brough – vocals Pete Hodge(s) – vocals
Cliff’s first band, The New Generation, was a Birmingham group known as Roy Everett’s Blueshounds, whose most notable member was future Fairport Convention bass player Dave Pegg.
Photo: Blueshounds
The Blueshounds were good mates of The Spencer Davis Group, who put in a good word for the band when Chris Blackwell was looking for musicians to support Cliff on the road. In November 1965, Blackwell released The Spencer Davis Group’s “Keep on Running”, the band’s first number one single.
Photo: Melody Maker, April 1966
Around the same time, Blackwell signed The Blueshounds to the agency he co-ran, West End Promotions Ltd, which also represented The Steampacket, Hedgehoppers Anonymous, The Alex Harvey Go Soul Show, Millie Small, Ayshea Brough and the newly arrived Jimmy Cliff.
With Pete Hodge(s) taking over from Roy Everett, The Blueshounds attended an “audition” recording session at Cecil Sharpe House in London on 23 November 1965 with promoter George Webb (The Spencer Davis Group’s agent) and DJ Alan Freeman.
Also in attendance that day were Jimmy Cliff and Ayshea Brough, a young singer that George Webb was trying to launch on the scene, who’d been working with future Hedgehoppers Anonymous drummer Glenn Martin.
Passing the audition, The Blueshounds were renamed The New Generation and Cliff travelled up to Birmingham to stay with Dave Pegg’s family for about two weeks while rehearsals took place to ready the band for the road. Singers Ayshea Brough and Pete Hodge(s) were also added to the touring band and had their own vocal spots in the show.
The (incomplete) gig listing below, which is taken from Dave Pegg’s scrap book unless otherwise noted), shows that the band’s debut took place at the Ritz Ballroom in King’s Heath, West Midlands in mid-December.
For most of these gigs, the band was billed as The New Generation, although the Marquee gigs list them as The Jimmy Cliff Big Sound. The only exception is a show at the Cue Club in Paddington, central London on 28 January where the band was billed as The Sound System, which may originally have been assigned for Cliff’s second support group (see below), although Dave Pegg’s version did honour this gig.
Notable gigs (from Dave Pegg’s diary unless noted)
15 December 1965 – The Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands
17 December 1965 – The Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with Steampacket and Graham Bond
17 December 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with Steampacket and Graham Bond
23 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Steampacket (billed as Jimmy Cliff Big Sound)
24 December 1965 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Jimmy Powell 5 Dimensions (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) (Billed as Explosive Jimmy Cliff, The New Generation, Ayshea and Pete Hodges)
26 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Tribe (Evening Sentinel) (billed as Jimmy Cliffe, Ayshea, Peter Hodges and The New Generation). This is missing from Dave Pegg’s list
31 December 1965 – Dungeon, Nottingham with Ayshea and Pete Hodges (Nottingham Evening Post)
3 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
6 January 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes with Ayshea and Pete Hodges (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
8 January 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes with Ayshea and Pete Hodges (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Says back by demand
14 January 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
15 January 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News) (billed as Jimmy Cliff plus New Generations Plus Ashea Plus Pete Hodges)
16 January 1966 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, south east London (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation with Ayshea and Pete Hodges)
22 January 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation)
23 January 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News) (billed as the Explosive Jimmy Cliff with New Generation, Pete Hodges and Ayshea) Replaced Manfred Mann
27 January 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Steampacket
28 January 1966 – The Cue Club, central Paddington (billed as Jimmy Cliff, Owen Gray, Ayshea and The Sound System)
29 January 1966 – The Ricky Tick, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire
30 January 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes with Ayshea and Pete Hodges (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
4 February 1966 – Bluesville R&B Club, Manor House, Finsbury Park, north London (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation featuring Ayesha and Pete Hodge)
5 February 1966 – Chelsea College, south west London with The Spencer Davis Group
It’s not entirely clear why Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation went their separate ways in early February 1966. Dave Pegg’s diary shows that a gig planned for 6 February was cancelled and on 13 February he was back in Birmingham working with a new band – The Uglys.
Aldershot News does list Jimmy Cliff playing at Farnborough Town Hall on 9 February but this may not have happened.
The decision to find a second band to back Cliff on the road was probably made in mid-late January and Chris Blackwell already knew who he wanted for the job.
Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System/New Generation
(February-July 1966)
Jimmy Cliff – lead vocals Tony Sinclair – lead guitar Ron Thomas – bass Mick Fletcher – organ John Droy – trumpet Mel Wayne – sax Dave Mahoney – sax Pete Hodges – vocals Ayshea Brough – vocals Phil Wainman – drums
The next group to back Jimmy Cliff on the road was also, somewhat confusingly, initially billed as The New Generation, although they also used the name The Sound System. Promoters added to the confusion by sometimes billing the band as The Jimmy Cliff Big Sound and The Jimmy Cliff Sound.
The Sound System, as they became around early January, had originally been called The Phil Wainman Band/Set. Phil Wainman, who years later found fame as a noted producer among other things, had first started out as a drummer in the early 1960s, working with The Hi Grades in Sweden and The Paramounts before linking up with the remnants of west London band, The All-Nite Workers around October 1965.
Ron Thomas, Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney had all been members of this group, which had morphed out of Mike Dee & The Prophets in early-mid 1965. Mick Fletcher joined from The Epitaph Soul Band when it became The Phil Wainman Band/Set around October 1965 after briefly playing in The Herd while Tony Sinclair and John Droy came in soon after, the former from Johnny Halliday’s band in France.
According to David Katz’s excellent book, Jimmy Cliff – An Unauthorised Biography, The Phil Wainman Band/Set secured a residency at Dolly’s Club in Jermyn Street in central London around November of that year. One night Chris Blackwell dropped in and introduced himself.
After be-friending Wainman, he kept the musicians in mind as a support band for the Jamaican acts on Island Records’ roster, including Jackie Edwards, Millie Small and Owen Gray.
Changing name to The Sound System, Wainman’s band started rehearsing with these acts in late January and one early gig, backing Owen Gray, took place at the New All Star Club in Artillery Passage near Liverpool Street station, London on 5 February 1966.
Around this time, it became clear that Cliff and the original New Generation would be separating so Wainman’s band started rehearsing with the singer when he wasn’t gigging with Dave Pegg’s group. After a few weeks’ rehearsals, Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System/New Generation debuted at the Marquee on 10 February, billed as The Jimmy Cliff Big Sound.
Over the next four and half months, Wainman’s band backed Cliff on the road, which included a package tour with The Who and The Spencer Davis Group in April 1966. It was during this time that Keith Moon spotted Wainman’s Red Sparkle Premier drum kit with two bass drums and decided to switch to the same set up two months later.
According to Wainman, Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System/New Generation were particularly popular in Grimsby and played there at least once a month. They also played four nights at the Penthouse.
However, some time in late July 1966, Jimmy Cliff and The Sound System/New Generation went their separate ways.
It’s not clear who backed Jimmy Cliff for a series of gigs that took place at London’s Whisky A Go Go on 9, 16 and 23 August as no support band is listed in Melody Maker, but he was joined by Dave Anthony’s Moods and The Soul System (aka The Attack) at some point during this period.
In December 1966, Jimmy Cliff hooked up with his next group, The Shakedown Sound with whom he worked with until February 1968. He then joined forces with Wynder K Frog.
As for The Sound System, the musicians joined forces with singer Gary Hamilton who was putting together a new version of Hamilton & The Movement (see future entry).
Notable gigs:
10 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Steampacket (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff Big Sound)
13 February 1966 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation)
15 February 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) (billed as Explosive Jimmy Cliff, The New Generation, Pete Hodges and Ayshea)
19 February 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation, with Ayshea and Pete Hodge)
20 February 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation)
21 February 1966 – Wall City Jazz Club, Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Lee, Eddie Showgroup, The Wall City Jazzmen and The Style (Cheshire Observer) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation with Ayshea and Pete Hodges)
24 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Steampacket (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff Big Sound)
25 February 1966 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, west London (Hayes Gazette)
3 March 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
4 March 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with The Ugly and The Craig (Birmingham Evening Mail) Dave Pegg from the first New Generation was on bass with The Uglys
8 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spencer Davis Group (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation)
11 March 1966 – Rialto, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
12 March 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation with Ayshea)
20 March 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) (billed as Jimmy Cliff, Aysha and The New Generation)
25 March 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough with The Warriors (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation)
26 March 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation and Pete Hodge)
27 March 1966 – Shakespeare Hotel, Woolwich, south east London (South East London Mercury) (billed as Jimmy Cliff)
3 April 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
4 April 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes with Ayshea and Pete Hodges (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
8 April 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, south east London with The Raisons (South East London Mercury)
10 April 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (Pete Watt’s research) (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Show)
11 April 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) Billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System
14 April 1966 – Gaumont Theatre, Southampton, Hants with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement (billed as 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 Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
16 April 1966 – Odeon, Watford, Herts with The Who, The Spencer Davis Group, The Band of Angels and Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement (billed as 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 Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
10 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spencer Davis Group (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff Sound)
13 May 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
15 May 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & Package Show)
16 May 1966 – The Beachcomber, Preston, Lancashire (Lancashire Evening Post) Billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound Systems
20 May 1966 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
21 May 1966 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire (Cambridgeshire Times) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation and straight from the Flamingo, central London)
22 May 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (Pete Watt’s research) (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Show)
2 June 1966 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) (Billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
4 June 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) (billed as Jimmy Cliff Show)
6 June 1966 – Wall City Jazz Club, Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Max Colley Jazzband, The Wall City Jazzmen and The Connoisseurs (Cheshire Observer) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & Group)
8-11 June 1966 – Penthouse, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) (billed as Jimmy Cliff Show) Says direct from Tiles
12 June 1966 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph) (billed as the Explosive Jimmy Cliff)
14 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spencer Davis Group (Melody Maker) (billed as Jimmy Cliff Sound)
18 June 1966 – Stamford Hotel, Stamford, Lincolnshire (Stamford Mercury) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
19 June 1966 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London (Pete Watt’s research) (billed as The Jimmy Cliff Show)
25 June 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generations)
26 June 1966 – Le Metro Club, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System with Pete Hodges)
1 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Him & The Others (website: https://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/) (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
2 July 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes with Pete Hodges (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)
8 July 1966 – Hull College of Technology Students’ Union, Skyline Ballroom, Hull with The Small Faces, The Mike Cotton Sound, Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers, The Mode and Eddie Gray & His Band (Hull Daily Mail) (Billed as Jimmy Cliff & The Sound System)
17 July 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (billed as Jimmy Cliff & The New Generations)
22 July 1966 – Royal Oak, Hockley Heath, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
23 July 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says with New Generation
23 July 1966 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
30 July 1966 – The Beachcomber, Preston, Lancashire (Lancashire Evening Post) Possibly the band’s final gig before split with Cliff and teaming up with Gary Hamilton
I’d like to thank the following for their help in piecing this story together: Dave Pegg, David Katz, Laurie Hornsby, Andy Neill, Ron Thomas, Phil Wainman, Mel Wayne and Brian Hosking.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
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.
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.
