Tag Archives: Ray Brown

Categories: England, Essex

Tony Rivers & The Castaways gigs 1963-1968

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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.

TONY RIVERS & THE CASTAWAYS

Image may be subject to copyright: Tony Rivers & The Castaways in mid-1968 just before changing name to Harmony Grass. Featured in Record Mirror

Tony Rivers – lead vocals

Vic Larkins – lead guitar

Mickey Johnson – rhythm guitar

Ray Brown – bass

Brian Talbot – drums

Formed as The Cutaways in Dagenham, Essex in 1960 without Tony Rivers (real name: Tony Thompson), the band backed singer Bobby Rio before Rivers joined as new lead singer in late 1961. They changed name not long afterwards.

1963

16 January 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

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26 January 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

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6 February 1963 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey with Shane Fenton & The Fentons (Woking Herald)

 

16 March 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

 

6 July 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

Sometime before signing a record deal with EMI, John Lyons (rhythm guitar) and Ricky West (lead guitar) took over from Johnson and Larkins respectively.

West didn’t stay long and joined The Tremeloes. Steve Scott took over lead guitar. The new formation recorded a string of singles, released on Columbia Records.

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3 August 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Gene Vincent & The Outlaws (Surrey Advertiser)

18 August 1963 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Stormers (Aldershot News)

 

23 November 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)

Photo: Harrow Weekly Post. Image may be subject to copyright

8 December 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Searchers, Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five and Bob Charles Combo (Surrey Advertiser)

1964

4 January 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Strangers Five (Kent Messenger)

11 January 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Le Roys (Woking News & Mail)

17 January 1964 – Cast Off, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Hully-Gullys (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

24 January 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Dinos (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

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1 February 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with two supporting groups (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

15 February 1964 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Red and Carolyn Plus Four (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)

 

22 February 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey with The Hop Mimers (Woking Herald)

25 February 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

29 February 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

 

11 April 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Beatfinders (East Kent Times)

14 April 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

18 April 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with Ricky Lee & The Hucklebucks (Lynn News)

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25 April 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Costers and The Beat Syndicate (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

28 April 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)

 

1 May 1964 – 03 Beat, Ovaltine Ballroom, Kings Langley, Herts (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

3 May 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Hideaways (Hertfordshire Express)

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16 May 1964 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Vincents (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

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29 May 1964 – Town Teen, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Forerunners (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

30 May 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

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13 June 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Worryin’ Kind (Woking News & Mail)

18 June 1964 – Breaks Youth Club, Hatfield, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

 

11 July 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Kinks and The Trends (Essex County Standard)

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13 September 1964 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Leyton & Leytonstone Guardian/Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)

22 September 1964 – Ilford Town Hall, Ilford, east London with The Concords (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

29 September 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Mike Stevens & The Dolphins (East Kent Times & Mail)

30 September 1964 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)

 

3 October 1964 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The King Bees (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

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17 October 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Candles (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

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24 October 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

 

7 November 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Chuck & The Dyaks (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

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21 November 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

During a Scottish tour, drummer Brian Talbot is killed in a road accident on 6 December. Drummer/singer Brian Hudson takes over the drum stool during early 1965

12 December 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Devil’s Coachmen (Lynn News)

1965

1 January 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (website: http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

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9 January 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Alexanders (Sussex Evening Express)

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10 January 1965 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk (Lynn News)

17 January 1965 – Cast off, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire with The Hully-Gullys (Berkhamsted Gazette)

 

1 February 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) According to Griggs’ book, guitarist Steve Scott announced he was leaving and the band offered him the lead guitar position, which he declined. 

13 February 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Emeralds (featuring Daniel Boone) (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

 

20 March 1965 – Barking Assembly Hall, Barking, east London with The Corsairs and the Galleons (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

21 March 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Medway Folk Trio (Maidstone Gazette)

 

10 April 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Four Pennies and Cannibals Sollet (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

12 April 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

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18 April 1965 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

19 April 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (East Kent Times & Mail)

24 April 1965 – Hi Fi Hop, Shepperton Village Hall, Shepperton, Middlesex (Woking Herald)

 

15 May 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Eccentrics (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

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29 May 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Them and The Concords (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

 

3 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)

10 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Melody Maker)

11 June 1965 – The Avenue R&B Club, Green Pond Road, east London (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian)

18 June 1965 – Guildhall, Axminster, Devon with support (Bridport News)

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20 June 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Dagoes (Sussex Evening Express)

 

11 July 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News)

16 July 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Mark Leeman Five and The Dennisons (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

17 July 1965 – Civic Theatre, Bedford with King James, Lloyd Williams, The Triads and The En-Devers (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

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25 July 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex with The Web (Mid Sussex Times)

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29 July 1965 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

31 July 1965 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Sons of Fred and The Charades (Essex County Standard)

 

1 August 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

4 August 1965 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (website: http://www.swindonmusicscene.co.uk/swindon_music_scene_gigs_of_note.html)

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7 August 1965 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire with The Byrds, Kenny Lynch, Tommy Quickly, Elkie Brook, Boz and The Bozmen, The Remo Four, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers and The Slade Brothers (Staines and Egham News/Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

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21 August 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Invaders (Lynn News)

30 August 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Herd (East Kent Times)

 

5 September 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

12 September 1965 – Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

25 September 1965 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Ends (Cambridgeshire Times)

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26 September 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex (Mid Sussex Times)

 

2 October 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

3 October 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

15 October 1965 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press & Advertiser)

16 October 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Ketas (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

 

3 November 1965 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex (Littlehampton Gazette)

6 November 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex (Essex County Standard)

7 November 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex (Mid Sussex Times)

13 November 1965 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

14 November 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Mike Stuart Span (Sussex Evening Express)

19 November 1965 – Queen’s Ballroom, Cleveleys, Lancashire plus two supporting groups 6 (Lancashire Evening Post)

26 November 1965 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch (Western Scene)

 

6 December 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (see website above)

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12 December 1965 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington with John Lee & The Groundhogs (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

18 December 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Utopians (Lynn News)

19 December 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

24 December 1965 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with support (Kent Messenger/Maidstone Gazette)

31 December 1965 – Dill Hall, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Bryan & The Brunelles (Bedfordshire Times)

1966

21 January 1966 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

29 January 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

 

5 February 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Titch and Brian & The Brunelles (Lincolnshire Standard)

6 February 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London with Ed Williams Sound System (Tottenham Weekly Herald)

19 February 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Cascades (Cambridgeshire Times)

22 February 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks (Bucks Advertiser)

26 February 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Blues Syndicate (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

 

2 March 1966 – Stonehouse Church Hall, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

5 March 1966 – Co-Op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

18 March 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with support (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

20 March 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

27 March 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

 

3 April 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Gaylords (East Kent Times) Trend and Boyfriend magazine has this also on 11 April

6 April 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn Advertiser)

15 April 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

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22 April 1966 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Angelo Six (Luton News)

23 April 1966 – Farnborough Technical College Students’ Union, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Paramounts (Aldershot News)

Around this time, singer Kenny Rowe who has previously fronted The Fifth Avenue joins on second lead vocals. Tony Harding also takes over lead guitar from Steve Scott.

The band now comprises:

Tony Rivers – lead vocals

Kenny Rowe – lead vocals

Tony Harding – lead guitar

John Lyons – rhythm guitar

Ray Brown – bass

Brian Hudson – drums/vocals

The group records a version of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”

13 May 1966 – Axminster Guildhall, Axminster, Devon (Bridport News)

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14 May 1966 – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset (Bridport News)

27 May 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

28 May 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Sons of Fred, Tom Thumbs and The Omruds (Lincolnshire Standard)

 

9 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Summer Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

20 June 1966 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

24 June 1966 – Unknown venue, Hastings, East Sussex with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Unit 4 Plus 2 and The Defiants (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

25 June 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

26 June 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News)

 

2 July 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

3 July 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

7 July 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hants (Portsmouth News)

9 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

15 July 1966 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The New Merseys, Dave Berry, The Move, The Montanas and The Californians (Express & Star)

17 July 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

21 July 1966 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire with The Illusions (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

30 July 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Legay (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

 

5 August 1966 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Warrington Guardian)

7 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Factotum (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

9 August 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)

13 August 1966 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Symbols (Essex County Standard)

22-24 August 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with support (Birmingham Evening Mail)

27 August 1966 – Mick’s Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express)

30 August 1966 – Flamingo,  Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s diary) The group didn’t turn up so The Fleur De Lys played all evening

Around this time Brian Hudson leaves to form The Parking Lot and former Sugarbeats drummer Geoff Swettenham replaces him

24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)

 

9 October 1966 – Stoke Hole, Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

14 October 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

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22 October 1966 – Disc Club, St Martin’s Centre, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)

28 October 1966 – Conservative Club, Finchley, north London (Fabulous 208)

30 October 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

About now Tony Harding and Kenny Rowe depart and former Sugarbeats lead guitarist John Perry joins. The group also bring in another singer Martin Shaer to replace Rowe

14 November 1966 – Dancing Slipper Ballroom, West Bridgeford, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

23 November 1966 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Montanas and Harvey’s Team (Express & Star)

Geoff brings in his brother Pete on rhythm guitar/vocals from The Sugarbeats

3 December 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Kids, The Defenders, The Twilites, The Tatters and T D Backhus and The Powerhouse (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)

16 December 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with The Heretics (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

17 December 1966 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Section A (Hertfordshire Express)

24 December 1966 – St George’s Hall, Exeter, Devon with The Son Set (Express & Echo)

1967

1 January 1967 – Matrix Hall, Coventry, West Midlands with The Spencer Davis Group, Jigsaw and Lovers Lot (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

3 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

 

6 February 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

13 February 1967 – The Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Staffords and The Pines (Express and Star)

14 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

18 February 1967 – Baillie Club, Glasgow, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

19 February 1967 – Palais, Dundee, Scotland with Cat Stevens (Fabulous 208)

20 February 1967 – Dhabi Hall, Larbert, Scotland with Cat Stevens, The Pathfinders and The Squad (Fabulous 208)

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26 February 1967 – Bluesette Club, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press)

 

4 March 1967 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Oxfordshire with These They Are (Wiltshire Gazette/Didcot Advertiser)

5 March 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Sound Society (Crewe Chronicle)

7 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 March 1967 – 7 Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Shropshire Star)

17 March 1967 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

29 March 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians (Express and Star)

31 March 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

 

2 April 1967 – Bluesette Club, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press)

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13 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Time (Essex County Standard)

14 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Time & Motion (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

19 April 1967 – Hull College of Commerce Students’ Union, Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, The Amboy Dukes, The Locomotion and The Jamm (Hull Daily Mail)

22 April 1967 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Angelo 6 (Bury Free Express)

26 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Enders Ltd (Berkhamstead Gazette, Tring & District News)

27 April 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Six Across and Stevenson’s Rockets (Nottingham Evening Post)

 

13 May 1967 – The Union, Manchester with The Mud (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

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14 May 1967 – The Embassy, Colchester, Essex with The Chalfont Movement (Essex County Standard)

16 May 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall (Fabulous 208)

17 May 1967 – Gaerleon College of Education, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)

18 May 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Skewen, Wales (Fabulous 208)

20 May 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Breed (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

22 May 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Maize and The Valets (Express & Star)

25 May 1967 – Elizabeth Hall, Dagenham, east London (Fabulous 208)

28 May 1967 – 76 Club, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

 

1 June 1967 – Summer House, The Portway, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)

4 June 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

5 June 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Roman Empire, Finders Keepers and Sons and Lovers (Express & Star)

8 June 1967 – Youth Centre, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)

9 June 1967 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

10 June 1967 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London (Fabulous 208)

14 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (Fabulous 208/West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

21 June 1967 – Cook Elite Hall, Cook, Bishop Auckland, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

22 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

25 June 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

30 June 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

 

6 July 1967 – Guildford School of Art, Guildford, Surrey with PP Arnold, Whisker Davies Blues Stormers and Tony Bennett (Surrey Advertiser)

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8 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

13 July 1967 – Waggon & Horses, Wall Heath, West Midlands with Pride & Pashion (Express & Star)

15 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News)

16 July 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

17 July 1967 – Civic Theatre, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Soul Caravan, The En-Devers, King James and Lloyd Williams, The Triads (Bedfordshire Times)

22 July 1967 – Garrison Ballroom, Millport, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

24 July 1967 – Town Hall, Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

26 July 1967 – Pier Bandstand, Weymouth, Dorset (Fabulous 208) Unlikely with Flamingo gig later

26 July 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

 

4 August 1967 – White Lion Hotel, Edgeware, north London (Fabulous 208)

4 August 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Minor Portions (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

4 August 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Melody Maker)

5 August 1967 – Civic Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire (Fabulous 208)

7 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

9 August 1967 – Vallance Ballroom, Tenby, Wales (Fabulous 208)

10 August 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, Wales (Port Talbot Guardian)

11 August 1967 – Glanmore Club, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)

12 August 1967 – Town Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (Fabulous 208)

17 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (Cornish Guardian)

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18 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ten Years After (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

29 August 1967 – Lotus Ballroom, Forest Gate, east London (Newham & Stratford Express)

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1 September 1967 – Queens Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool, County Durham with The Tony King Sound (Hartlepool Mail)

10 September 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Crawdadds (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

16 September 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)

18 September 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Wanted (Express & Star)

22 September 1967 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians, Dual Purpose, The Staffords and The News (Express & Star)

29 September 1967 – Floral Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Cityweek)

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30 September 1967 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Cityweek)

 

6 October 1967 – Cragburn Pavilion, Gourock, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

7 October 1967 – Carioca Club, Town Hall, Bearsden, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

8 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Plastic Dream (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

12 October 1967 – Kingfisher Country Club, Wall Heath, West Midlands with The Modernairs and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

13 October 1967 – Birmingham City College, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

14 October 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Friction (Cambridgeshire Times)

15 October 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

16 October 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (Fabulous 208)

21 October 1967 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Jo Jo Gunne (Streatham News)

22 October 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 October 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with People’s People and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

27 October 1967 – Tabernacle Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

30 October 1967 – Lyceum, Strand, central London (Fabulous 208)

 

4 November 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

11 November 1967 – Ilford Baths Hall, Ilford, east London with The Aldgate Pump (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

12 November 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Tiles Big Band (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

19 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with The Bee Gees, Flowerpot Men and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Melody Maker)

23 November 1967 – RAF Club, Uxbridge, west London (Fabulous 208)

24 November 1967 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

25 November 1967 – Shaftsbury Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Fabulous 208)

Around this time, the Sweetenham brothers and John Perry leave to form Grapefruit and Martin Shaer also departs. Disc & Music Echo’s 16 December issue confirms the split.

Tony Rivers rebuilds the group, retaining Ray Brown and bringing Tony Harding and Kenny Rowe (who has recently produced The Playground) back

Tony Rivers – lead vocals

Kenny Rowe – lead vocals

Tony Harding – lead guitar

Ray Brown – bass

Bill Castle – drums/vocals

16 December 1967 – Lotus Club, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)

17 December 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Shell Shock Show and The Martells (Essex County Standard)

30 December 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Evening Sentinel/Crewe Chronicle)

1968

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6 January 1968 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Hustling Kind (Hastings & St Leonards Observer)

26 January 1968 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Alan Price Set, The Soul Seekers, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

 

5 February 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

13 February 1968 – Pyjama Dance, Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, south Wales with Simon Dupree &The Big Sound, The Spencer Davis Group, Fleetwood Mac and The Dream (South Wales Evening Post)

23 February 1968 – Avery Hill College, Eltham, southeast London with The Information and The Joker 5 (South East London Mercury) This may be a different date

23 February 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Tykes (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

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28 February 1968 – Tangerine Club, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, Barking and Stratford Express)

 

2 March 1968 – Plaza, Handsworth, West Midlands with Terry Reid’s Fantasia (Birmingham Evening Mail)

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15 March 1968 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Neat Change and Taste (City Week)

15 March 1968 – Floral Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland (City Week)

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29 March 1968 – The Plaza, Bedford with Spell, Acceleration, Spectre Powerhouse, Tribe Five, John Williams and Jackson Mornay (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

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30 March 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with Fusion (Somerset County Gazette)

 

4 April 1968 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland with Max Baer & The Chicago Setback and Privy Seal (Grantham Journal)

7 April 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex (Evening Argus)

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13 April 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Provokers (Cornish Guardian)

15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Happy Magazine and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)

17 April 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Marmalade (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

20 April 1968 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with Penny Peeps (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

29 April 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

The Hillingdon Mirror ran a story and a photo of Tony in its 30 April 1968, page 11. The article mentions the new formation with Kenny Rowe (vocals); Tony Harding (lead guitar/vocals); Tom Marshall (rhythm guitar/vocals); Ray Brown (bass); and Bill Castle (drums/vocals)

 

3 May 1968 – Brighton Students’ Festival Ball, Hotel Metropole, Exhibition Hall, Brighton, West Sussex with Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, Washington DCs, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann and P P Arnold (West Sussex Gazette)

18 May 1968 – Hoffman Apprentices’ Association, Hoffman Ballroom, Chelmsford, Essex with The Roulettes (Essex Chronicle)

24 May 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Swansea, south Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and The Love Sculpture (South Wales Evening Post)

31 May 1968 – Wellington Manor House, Crowthorne, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

 

6 June 1968 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

7 June 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

8 June 1968 – Dudley Teachers’ Training College, Dudley, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

15 June 1968 – Wolverhampton College of Technology Students Union, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Backdenkel Purists (Express & Star)

Around this time Tony Ferguson took over lead guitar from Tony Harding

25 June 1968 – Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (Fabulous 208)

27 June 1968 – Royal College of Art, Chelsea, southwest London (Fabulous 208)

28 June 1968 – Lady Spencer Churchill College of Education, Oxford (Fabulous 208)

29 June 1968 – 76 Club, Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)

 

6 July 1968 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

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6 July 1968 – Institute Braintree, Braintree, Essex with Purple Haze and Ben Truman (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)

22 July 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Obs-Tweedle (Express & Star)

22 July 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Duster Bennett (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

 

August 1968 – Scene and Herd Club, St Thomas Hall, Brentwood (Essex Chronicle)

1 August 1968 – Alsagar College, near Crewe, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)

2 August 1968 – RAF Cranwell (Fabulous 208)

22 August 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 August 1968 – Archer Hall, Billericay, Essex (Southend Standard)

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28 August 1968 – Redcliffe Hotel, Caswell Bay, south Wales with Yellow featuring Paul Rogers (South Wales Evening Post)

 

8 September 1968 – Sunday Scene, Silver End, near Witham, Essex (Essex Chronicle)

14 September 1968 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex (Fabulous 208)

21 September 1968 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, West Midlands with Fox & The Vision (Express & Star)

24 September 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)

29 September 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Around this time, the band becomes Harmony Grass, but the gigs below are billed as Tony Rivers & The Castaways

26 October 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

28 October 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

 

3 November 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Acceleration (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

14 November 1968 – Sloopy’s Scoop, Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

17 November 1968 – Sunday Scene, Silver End, near Witham, Essex (Fabulous 208)

22 November 1968 – Bangor University, Bangor, Wales (Fabulous 208)

23 November 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

29 November 1968 – Staines Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex (Staines & Egham News)

30 November 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

 

6 December 1968 – Club Lafayette, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)

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

Categories: England, London

Magic Roundabout

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

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

The original formation comprised:

Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals

John Chinnery – guitar/vocals

Roger Flavell – bass/vocals

Albert Woodward – drums

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

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

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

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

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

Dave Martin Group gigs:

21 December 1966 – Ickenham Hall, Ickenham, northwest London

23 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

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

30 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

31 December 1966 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

 

6 January 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

7 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

14 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

21 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

24 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

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

29 January 1967 – Hesden Hall, Ruislip, northwest London

31 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

 

4 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

5 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

10 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London

11 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

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

19 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

26 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

 

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

5 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

12 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

13 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

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

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

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

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

 

Dave Martin Group gigs (continued):

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

18 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Teddington, west London

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

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

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

26 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

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

 

2 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

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

8 April 1967 – Derwentwater Club, Acton, west London

9 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

15 April 1967 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford

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

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

23 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

30 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

 

7 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

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

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

14 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

19 May 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London

20 May 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire

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

28 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London

 

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

4 June 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London

8 June 1967 – RAF Northwood

9 June 1967 – Unknown venue, Purfleet, Essex

10 June 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London

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

16 June 1967 – ILI Co, Wembley, west London

17 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

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

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

24 June 1967 – Wedding reception, Hendon, north London

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

30 June 1967 – Greenway School, Uxbridge, west London

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

 

Dave Martin Group gigs (continued): 

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

8 July 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire

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

28 July 1967 – Epsom Youth Club, Epsom, Surrey

29 July 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

 

5 August 1967 – Thames Boat Trip, Westminster to Teddington

6 August 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London

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

 

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

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

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

The Magic Roundabout gigs:

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Magic Roundabout’s new line up comprised:

Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals

John Chinnery – lead guitar/vocals

John Elliott – organ/vocals

Roger Flavell – bass/vocals

Lindsay Bex – drums

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

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

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

25 November 1967 – YMCA, Baldock, Hertfordshire

 

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

8 December 1967 – Guild Hall, Ilford, east London

9 December 1967 – The Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

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

16 December 1967 – RAF Feltwell

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

26 December 1967 – Halfway House, Dunstable, Hertfordshire

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

 

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

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

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

12 January 1968 – USAF Woodbridge, Suffolk

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

20 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London

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

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

27 January 1968 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

30 January 1968 – BBC Maida Vale (audition)

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

 

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

 

2 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

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

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

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

16 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

17 February 1968 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire

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

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

 

1 March 1968 – County Ballroom, Carlisle, Cumbria

2 March 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

3 March 1968 – Woodhouse WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

8 March 1968 – RAF Club, Tredegar, Wales

9 March 1968 – Howard Winstone Club, Merthyr, Wales

10 March 1968 – Beech Grove, Pengham, Wales

13 March 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester

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

15 March 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

18 March 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire

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

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

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

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

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

20 April 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London

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

26 April 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

27 April 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

28 April 1968 – The Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset

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

 

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

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

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

11 May 1968 – Bradford University with Jeff Beck Group

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

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

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

23 May 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

24-25 May 1968 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington

26 May 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

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

31 May 1968 – 270 Discotheque, Barnsley, West Yorkshire

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

 

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

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

1 June 1968 – Manchester University

8 June 1968 – The Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset

14 June 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

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

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

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

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

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

28 June 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

29 June 1968 – University of Aston, Birmingham

30 June 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

 

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

2 July 1968 – Top Ranke Suite, Southampton, Hants

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

6 July 1968 – Bellpunch, Uxbridge, west London

14 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

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

19 July 1968 – Victoria & Bull, Dartford, Kent

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

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

26 July 1968 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex

28 July 1968 – A Train, Hayes, west London

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

 

2 August 1968 – Harrow Inn, Woolwich, south London

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

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

11 August 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

16 August 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

17 August 1968 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

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

20 August 1968 – Almonbury WMC, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

21 August 1968 – Ponderose, Barnsley, West Yorkshire

22 August 1968 – Blue Bell, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

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

30 August 1968 – RAF Whitton, Whitton, west London

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

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

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

Miki Anthony meanwhile established a highly successful solo career.

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

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

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

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

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

The new Magic Roundabout formation now comprised:

Ian Hollands – lead guitar/vocals

John Chinnery – rhythm guitar/vocals

John Elliott – organ/vocals

Ray Brown – bass/vocals

Roger Willis – drums/vocals

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

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

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

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

23 May 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London

31 May 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

 

6 June 1969 – Salvatorian College, Wealdstone, northwest London

7 June 1969 – White Hart, Tottenham, north London

13 June 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London

21 June 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

27 June 1969 – Woodford Youth Club, St Barnabos School

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

 

3 July 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire

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

6 July 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London

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

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

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

19 July 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

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

 

1 August 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London

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

7 August 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Watford, Hertfordshire

15 August 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

16 August 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

23 August 1969 – Spa Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

24 August 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London

30 August 1969 – Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk

31 August 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

26 September 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

27 September 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire

28 September 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

 

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

4 October 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

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

24 October 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

25 October 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

 

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

2 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

8 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

14 November 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, Essex

21 November 1969 – Kettering WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire

28 November 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

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

6 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

11 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

13 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

19 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

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

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

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

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

17 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London

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

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

30 January 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

7 February 1970 – Gillettes, Isleworth, Middlesex

8 February 1970 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London

12 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

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

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

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

22 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

24 February 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

27 February 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London

 

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

7 March 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton

12 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

14 March 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

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

21 March 1970 – Airmen’s Mess, USAF Wethersfield

26 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

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

 

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

3 April 1970 – AYA USAF West Ruislip, northwest London

4 April 1970 – Andromeda Club, Colchester, Essex

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

11 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

16 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

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

19 April 1970 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

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

 

2 May 1970 – Airmen’s Club, USAF Mildenhall

9 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

14 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

26 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

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

30 May 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe

 

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

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

 

The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):

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

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

13 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

18 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London

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

20 June 1970 – Braintree College, Braintree, Essex

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

 

1 July 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe

3 July 1970 – Beaconsfield Youth Club

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

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

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

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

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

16 July 1970 – RAF High Wycombe

24 July 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton

25 July 1970 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Categories: England, London

The Cromwellian, 3 Cromwell Road, South Kensington

5 Comments

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)

 

6 August 1965 (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

14 August 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

30 August 1965 (Monday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Martyn Hanson’s Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice book)

According to Hanson’s book, this was keyboard player Terry Goldberg’s final gig with Mark Leeman’s band.

 

8 September 1965 (Wednesday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

11 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 September 1965 (Wednesday) – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

16 September 1965 (Thursday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

23 September 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but most of the 1965 gigs below are Thursdays.

25 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

 

1 October 1965 (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

7 October 1965 (Thursday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

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.

15 January 1966 (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

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)

16 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Steampacket (website: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html)

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)

30 July 1966 (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

 

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)

30 September 1966 (Friday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Jimi Hendrix website)

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)

31 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

 

11 June 1967 (Sunday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

13 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

20 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Irish band Granny’s Intentions played around July 1967

4 July 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Vince Edwards (Fabulous 208)

13 July 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

18 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

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)

8 February 1968 (Thursday) – Taste (Rory Gallagher’s Fandom site: https://concerts.fandom.com/wiki/Rory_Gallagher)

14 February 1968 (Wednesday) – The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

15 February 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

26 February 1968 (Monday) – Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

4 March 1968 (Monday) – Fleetwood Mac (Melody Maker)

5 March 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 March 1968 (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Melody Maker)

18 March 1968 (Monday) – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

25 March 1968 (Monday) – Champion Jack Dupree (Melody Maker)

26 March 1968 (Tuesday) – Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

 

22 April 1968 (Monday) – The Showstoppers (Melody Maker)

25 April 1968 (Thursday) – Nepenthe and Jigsaw (Melody Maker)

26 April 1968 (Friday) – My Dear Watson (Melody Maker)

29 April 1968 (Monday) – Duster Bennett (Melody Maker)

30 April 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

 

1 May 1968 (Wednesday) – O’Hara’s Playboys (Melody Maker)

2 May 1968 (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

3 May 1968 (Friday) – Duane Eddy with The Quotations (Melody Maker)

6 May 1968 (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

7 May 1968 (Tuesday) – The Jeff Beck Group (Melody Maker)

8 May 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

9 May 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

10 May 1968 (Friday) – Hopscotch (Melody Maker)

11 May 1968 (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Melody Maker)

13 May 1968 (Monday) – The Fantastics (with The House of Orange) (Melody Maker)

14 May 1968 (Tuesday) – The Embers (Melody Maker)

15 May 1968 (Wednesday) – O’ Hara’s Playboys (Melody Maker)

16 May 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

17 May 1968 (Friday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

18 May 1968 (Saturday) – Brass Tacks (Melody Maker)

20 May 1968 (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

21 May 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

22 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 May 1968 (Monday) – Duane Eddy (Melody Maker)

 

3 June 1968 (Monday) – Bill Haley & The Comets (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

14 June 1968 (Friday) – Ruby & The Romantics (Melody Maker)

18 June 1968 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

27 June 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

8 July 1968 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

20 July 1968 (Saturday) – The Mooche (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

2 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

3 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

8 August 1968 (Thursday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

9 August 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

10 August 1968 (Saturday) – The Pathfinders (Melody Maker)

12 August 1968 (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

15 August 1968 (Thursday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

16 August 1968 (Friday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)

17 August 1968 (Saturday) – Alexander Bell & The Flies (Melody Maker)

20 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

22 August 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

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)

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

Categories: CBS, England, London, MCA, Surrey

The Kool

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The Kool, late 1967, from left: Jet Hodges, Dave Carol, Ray Brown, Pete Burt and Jeff Curtis (aka David Myers), photo courtesy Ray Brown
The Kool, late 1967, from left: Jet Hodges, Dave Carol, Ray Brown, Pete Burt and Jeff Curtis (aka David Myers), photo courtesy Ray Brown

 

The Kool #1 (August-December 1967)

Jeff Curtis – vocals
Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals
Jet Hodges (aka Richard Hodgins) – keyboards, vocals
Ray Brown – bass, vocals
Pete Burt – drums

Originally known as Jeff Curtis & The Flames, their manager, rock promoter Mervyn Conn changed their name to The Kool around August 1967.

Kool CBS 45 Room at the Top

Signing the band to CBS Records, Conn used The Ivy League and session musicians, including drummer Clem Cattini, to record Tony Macauley and John MacLeod’s poppy “Look at Me, Look at Me”, which was backed by the soulful “Room at the Top” (credited to Curtis’s real name: David Myers but actually a co-write with Ray Brown and originally cut as a demo by Jeff Curtis & The Flames around May 1966).

The A-side only features Ray Brown from the band who provides the lead vocal and is surrounded by the massed vocals of The Ivy League. The B-side is notable for its use of horns and cello and has a soulful feel with Jeff Curtis’s gravelly voice to the fore.

Produced by Mervyn Conn and arranged by Keith Mansfield, the single was released on 12 October 1967 but did not chart despite being plugged by DJ Tony Blackburn on Radio 1.

During the same session, Conn used The Ivy League as singers on an excellent version of “Step Out of Your Mind”, previously recorded and released in the United States by The American Breed, and a cover of Ralph Murphy’s “Funny What a Fool Can Be”. Like the previous B-side, Jeff Curtis sang lead vocals on this track and the band members are featured on the recording.

The two tracks were coupled for a second single, issued, and then mysteriously withdrawn, in limited edition, around December 1967.

That same month, the band played at Coronation Hall in Kingston with PP Arnold, after which Ray Brown departed to reunite with Steve Reading and Mickey Baker from his 1950s band, The Sky Blue Skiffle Group, in a new outfit called Champagne. During 1968, Champagne shared the bill with The Kool at Kew Boathouse. In 1969, Brown joined The Magic Roundabout.

With Ray Brown out of the picture, The Kool carried on, bringing in new bass player Brian Hosking.

Notable gigs:

Photo: Wakefield Express

9 September 1967 – Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire Billed as The Cool so may be another band

Photo: Ampthill News & Flintwick Record

15 September 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford with The 100w Carnation

 

1 December 1967 – Coronation Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with PP Arnold (may have been later this month or first week in January)

The Kool, late 1967, from left: Ray Brown, Jeff Curtis (aka David Myers), Pete Burt, Dave Carol and Jet Hodges
The Kool, late 1967, from left: Ray Brown, Jeff Curtis (aka David Myers), Pete Burt, Dave Carol and Jet Hodges

 

The Kool #2 (January-August 1968)

Jeff Curtis – vocals
Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals
Jet Hodges (aka Richard Hodgins) – keyboards, vocals
Brian Hosking – bass
Pete Burt – drums

Originally from Twickenham, Middlesex, Brian Hosking (b. 7 July 1947, Twickenham, Middlesex) was no stranger to the band having known Dave Carol from The Smokestacks in 1964. Hosking had first played bass with The Diplomats while at school and then joined The Feeet with guitarist Doug Ayris. During 1963, Hosking and Ayris formed The Legend with singer Nigel Kingswell and drummer John Sergeant.

In 1964, Hosking left to join The Smokestacks. Two years later, he helped form Twickenham band, The All Night Workers. However, after a few months, he departed to run a bar full-time in Heston and only returned to the live scene in October 1967 with a short-lived band called Deep Purple (no relation to their more famous namesake). When he joined The Kool, Hosking had given up the bar to sell car batteries in Slough and was living in Hounslow.

Kingston & Malden Borough News, 30 August 1968

In early 1968, The Kool appeared at London’s top nightclubs, the Cromwellian and the Pickwick. During the second part 1968, the band increasingly found work in the Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey area.

Notable gigs:

Photo: Swindon Advertiser

27 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with James Stuart Inspiration

Photo: Surrey Advertiser

15 June 1968 – West Clandon Youth Club, West Clandon, Surrey

22 June 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

 

6 July 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

19 July 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

The Kool #3 (August 1968-January 1969)

Jeff Curtis – vocals
Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals
Jet Hodges (aka Richard Hodgins) – keyboards, vocals
Brian Hosking – bass
Steve Allen – drums

During late summer Pete Burt departed and joined up with keyboard player Bob Brittain for a tour of Germany. In 1969, Brittain offered Burt the drum position in his new band, Pickettywitch but the drummer declined the offer. The following year, he reunited with his old school friend from Roxeth Manor School – Rod Wharton and they formed the trio, Hogsnort Rupert. Burt subsequently retired from the music business and passed away on 20 March 2013.

Steve Allen, who was originally from Cornwall and had played in several West Country bands for five years before moving to Esher, Surrey, took over from Burt while working for the Inland Revenue in Richmond, Surrey during the day.

According to the Kingston and Malden Borough News, the new line up returned to the studios in early September 1968 to record three more sides, including two band originals, and two of the tracks recorded would be chosen for the band’s next single, due out around Christmas. The promised single never appeared.

The new Kool line-up, however, was short-lived because Allen did not like the band’s music and departed early on to join The Factory, led by singer Jack Brand.

Notable gigs:

16 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

24 August 1968 –Staines Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex

25 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, White Lion, Putney, Southwest London

 

18 November 1968 – Orange Grove, Grove Tavern, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

 

6 December 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

Photo: Melody Maker

The Kool #4 (January-May 1969)

Jeff Curtis – vocals
Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals
Jet Hodges (aka Richard Hodgins) – keyboards, vocals
Brian Hosking – bass
Geoff Coxon – drums

Dave Carol enlisted his old friend from early 1960s band, The Drovers, Geoff Coxon, to replace the outgoing Steve Allen. Since splitting from Carol in 1964, Coxon had joined Hampton, Middlesex band, The Others, just in time to promote their lone single on Fontana, a raucous version of Bo Diddley’s “Oh Yeah”, coupled with the band original “I’m Taking Her Home”.

After The Others fell apart in October of that year, Coxon moved on to work with Colin Shane & The Shannons alongside guitarist Dave Mumford and bass player Dick Merritt. When this group split up in late 1965, the trio formed The Sugar Band with organist Malcolm Wainman, tenor sax player Pete Browning and baritone sax player Les Batt and worked the soul club circuit until late 1967.

The band’s agent then linked the musicians with Jamaican singer Delroy Williams and they became The Delroy Williams Show with The Sugar Band. By late 1968, the group had split from Williams and Coxon gigged around before joining The Kool.

Program for show in Caen, France in Feb. 1969. The photo shows the '67 lineup before Brian Hosking and Geoff Coxon had joined. Program scan courtesy of Brian Hosking
Program for show in Caen, France in Feb. 1969. The photo shows the ’67 lineup before Brian Hosking and Geoff Coxon had joined. Program scan courtesy of Brian Hosking

 

The new line up travelled to France to play the Grand Ball at Caen University in early February. During that weekend, the new band members did a signing at a record shop for their forthcoming CBS single, which featured a photo of the original line up.

Kool CBS 45 Step Out of Your Mind

On 18 April 1969, CBS belatedly released The Kool’s second single, “Step Out of Your Mind” c/w “Funny What A Fool Can Be”, over a year after it was originally recorded. Despite a strong performance, the band’s moment had passed and the single failed to chart.

The single was reviewed in the Kingston and Malden Borough News’s 25 April 1969 edition, together with a photo of the original line up.

The current line up, however, signed to MCA and recorded a final single, issued in June 1969, coupling the poppy “Lovin’”, written by the song-writing team Capitanelli and O’Connor, backed by Dave Myers’ original, “Baby’s Out of Reach”. Produced by Phil Swern, arranged by Tom Parker, and with backing vocals by Sue and Sonny, the single had great potential but was another chart failure.

Before it was released both Jet Hodges and newcomer Geoff Coxon departed. Coxon joined Calum Bryce, reuniting with Dave Mumford. Coxon currently performs with a reformed The Others.

Calum Bryce, late 1969. Geoff Coxon at far left Photo courtesy of Geoff Coxon
Calum Bryce, late 1969. Geoff Coxon at far left Photo courtesy of Geoff Coxon

 

Notable gigs:

15 January 1969 – Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey

Photo: Woking Herald

8 February 1969 – Grand Ball, Caen University, France

Photo: Woking Herald

2 May 1969 – Addlestone Community Centre, Addlestone, Surrey

 

The Kool #5 (May-August 1969)

Jeff Curtis – vocals
Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals
Ronnie Clayden – keyboards, vocals
Brian Hosking – bass
Jim Park – drums

Jim Park (b. 21 March 1947, Staines, Middlesex) was recruited via an advert that Hosking put in Melody Maker. The band received over 60 applications for the drum vacancy but Park knew Clive Burrows, who was singing in the latest version of Hosking’s former group The All Night Workers, which still contained Hosking’s former band mate from The Legend, Doug Ayris. Burrows also worked as a store man at a shop Hosking’s girlfriend managed.

August 1969

Barely 20 years old, Clayden (b. 2 April 1949, Lewisham, Kent) was living in Ascot, Berkshire at the time and had previously worked with Maidenhead band, The John Thomas Blues Band, which included lead guitarist Graham Marshall and drummer Chris Stevens.

The John Thomas Blues Band landed loads of support gigs opening for the likes of The Pretty Things, The Gun and Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation and had even spent a brief period backing American blues singer/pianist Champion Jack Dupree. The John Thomas Blues Band appeared at the Crown pub in Twickenham on 11 January 1969. Clayden finds out about the position in The Kool through Jim Park whose parents worked with his.

Sir Robert Peel, photo taken September 2011
Sir Robert Peel, photo taken September 2011

The Kool, however, were nearing their end and during a run of shows at the Sir Robert Peel in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, longstanding front man Jeff Curtis quit the band and was replaced by singer Roger Semon, who’d previously fronted The In-Sekt Ltd and Coconut Ice.

Not long after newcomer Jim Park also departed and subsequently re-joined The All Night Workers. Alan Cottrell took his place on the drum stool.

After leaving the band he had led for nearly a decade, Jeff Curtis reverted to his real name, David Myers, and set up his own restaurant business. He died in tragic circumstances in the late 1990s.

Notable gigs:

19-20 July 1969 – Sir Robert Peel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

 

7 August 1969 – Sir Robert Peel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

9 August 1969 – Hog’s Back Hotel, Seale, near Farnham, Surrey

12 August 1969 – Sir Robert Peel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

The Kool, December 1970, from left: Brian Hosking, Alan Cottrell, Roger Semon, Dave Carol and (not pictured) Ronnie Clayden Photo courtesy of Brian Hosking
The Kool, December 1970, from left: Brian Hosking, Alan Cottrell, Roger Semon, Dave Carol and (not pictured) Ronnie Clayden Photo courtesy of Brian Hosking

 

The Kool #6 (September 1969-December 1970)

Roger Semon – vocals
Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals
Ronnie Clayden – keyboards, vocals
Brian Hosking – bass
Alan Cottrell – drums

Despite losing their longstanding frontman, The Kool continued into 1970 but did not record any more material. In early 1971, Hosking and Clayden both left.

Hosking later moved to the Guildford area where he worked with the band Bloodhound. Based on Bournemouth, he is currently working with a reformed version of The All Night Workers. Clayden, meanwhile, subsequently moved to the Camberley/Ascot area on the Surrey/Berkshire border and worked with the band, Snow Leopard. He later moved to the United States where he currently resides.

After bringing back Hosking’s predecessor Ray Brown from Magic Roundabout and carrying on without a keyboard player, the final line up continued as Easy Virtue throughout 1971. During that year, John Frost took over the drum stool from Alan Cottrell.

In 1972, Carol left and was replaced by lead guitarist Frank Torpey, who’d been in the original Sweet. The band then changed name to Crackers. However, in 1973, John Frost left to re-join Carol in a new version of Easy Virtue, which lasted into the mid-1970s. Carol subsequently left the music business and currently runs his own restaurant business in Southwest London.

Ray Brown meanwhile stayed in the music business until the mid-1980s. Crackers were studio winners on Opportunity Knocks in 1976 and recorded material at Abbey Road and Surrey Sound Studios. Three tracks featuring Roger Semon, Ray Brown and Frank Torpey were released under the name Horrorcomic on Lighting Records in 1977 and reached #28 in Melody Maker’s punk charts.

Two further singles were released in 1978 and 1979 with Roger Willis from Capability Brown on drums. All of the single releases, plus six previously unreleased recordings were issued in 2006 by Sanctuary Records on the CD England 77’. Brown later worked with comedy show group The Wallies and The Beasty Grandads before retiring from the music business in September 1988. He currently lives in Surrey.

Notable gigs:

10 September 1969 – Sir Robert Peel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

17 September 1969 – Sir Robert Peel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

27 September 1969 – Kingston College of Technology, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with Bobby Kerr Whoopee Band and The Webb

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

5 December 1969 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

22 December 1969 – Chessington Youth Club, Chessington, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

27 December 1969 – Kingston Rowing Club, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

20 February 1970 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

 

7 March 1970 – Kingston Rowing Club, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

21 March 1970 – Hook Youth Club, Hook, Surrey

 

4 April 1970 – Claygate Village Hall, Claygate, Surrey

17 April 1970 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

24 April 1970 – Hook Youth Club, Hook, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

22 May 1970 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

17 July 1970 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

4 September 1970 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News

23 October 1970 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey

A huge thanks goes to Dave Carol, Pete Burt, Brian Hosking, Geoff Coxon, Ronnie Clayden, Ray Brown, Rod Wharton and John Frost. The Kingston and Malden Borough News also proved useful. Many thanks to Brian Hosking, Ray Brown and Ronnie Clayden for providing some of the images. This is dedicated to Pete Burt.

45 releases:

Look at Me, Look at Me/Room at the Top (CBS 203003) 1967
Step Out of Your Mind/Funny (What a Fool a Can Be) (CBS 2865) April 18, 1969
Lovin’/Baby’s Out of Reach (MCA MU 1085) 1969

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

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

Categories: England, London

Jeff Curtis and The Flames

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Jeff Curtis & the Flames, circa spring 1963. From left to right: Malcolm Randall, Louis McKelvey, Dave Wigginton, Keith Gardiner, Malcolm Tomlinson and Jeff Curtis

Revised February 2018

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #1 (circa May 1961-May 1962)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Mick Cartwright – lead guitar

Robin “Jesse” James – rhythm guitar

Gary Wheeler – bass

Derek “Dell” Saville – drums

Twickenham born insurance salesman Jeff Curtis (born David Myers; 20 June 1940) had ambitions to be a singer/performer and reportedly put together the original Flames around mid-1961 after singing in a choir.

Little is known about the early Flames. However, according to drummer Dell Saville, Curtis approached him to join a version with three Whitton musicians in mid-1961. These comprised lead guitarist Mick Cartwright, rhythm guitarist Robin “Jesse” James and bass player Gary Wheeler. Curtis ran a short-lived club, the JC Rock Club in the New British Legion Hall on Long Lane, Hillingdon Circus and the musicians played there often, debuting on 26 July 1961. Around May 1962, however, the musicians went their separate ways and Saville joined Ray Dell & The Rocking Deacons. James joined The Downliners briefly.

Advert in Uxbridge Post, 8 November 1961

Curtis started to piece together a new version of The Flames in late 1962/early 1963, starting with Hounslow-based bass player Dave Wigginton (b. 25 February 1943, Isleworth, Middlesex), who held a senior position at an import/export warehouse at London (later Heathrow) Airport during the day, and was working with Twickenham outfit, Johnny & The Pursuers, who played at the JC Rock Club. Thanks to Wigginton’s connections, the new Flames would use the warehouse to rehearse in the evenings. The bass player quickly recommended fellow Pursuers’ guitarist Louis McKelvey (b. 31 October 1943, Killorglin, County Kerry, Eire).

Born above a pub Louis McKelvey came from an artistic background; his mother and father worked in theatre. After boarding at Silverlands House in Chertsey, he attended school in Twickenham, Middlesex, where he was classmates with Don Craine, later of The Downliners Sect fame. McKelvey’s first band was local outfit Johnny & The Pursuers.

Soon after, Curtis recruited rhythm guitarist Keith Gardiner (b. September 1942). In late 1957, when he was 15 years old, Gardiner had befriended 10-year-old drummer John “Mitch” Mitchell at Tudor Rose Youth Club in Southall, Middlesex and had formed a rudimentary band together with guitarist Pete Ross, who subsequently went on to Ealing band, The Flexmen. At the time, Mitchell was attending Jim Marshall’s shop in Hanwell, Middlesex where he was taking drum lessons while Gardiner was taking guitar lessons from top session player, the late Big Jim Sullivan among others.

Wiggington recommended Malcolm Tomlinson (b. 16 June 1946, Isleworth, Middlesex) on drums around December 1962 after seeing him at a local youth club playing with The Panthers. Tomlinson was brought up in Cranford, near London Airport, where his parents worked for British Airways.

A talented musician, who later became a multi-instrumentalist, Tomlinson had attended Spring Grove Grammar School in Isleworth where he was classmates with fellow drummer Mick Underwood, who went on to work with The Outlaws with Ritchie Blackmore among others, and guitarist Tony Bramwell (see later entry). Initially a guitarist, Tomlinson started playing drums in late 1962 and soon proved his natural ability on the kit.

The new formation debuted at Curtis’s Hillingdon club but it soon closed down.

Keith Gardiner says the band opened for The Rolling Stones a couple of times at the Station Hotel in Richmond during February-March 1963 before the club was renamed the Crawdaddy. They also played at the Ealing Club during this period a few times.

Louis McKelvey, Dave Wigginton, Malcolm Tomlinson (partially obscured), Keith Gardiner and Jeff Curtis. Photo: Dave Wigginton

Around March 1963, the musicians completed the new formation with jazz enthusiast, Harrow-on-The-Hill-based sax player Malcolm Randall (b. October 1942, Hendon, Middlesex), who later earned the nickname C B (current bun). Randall’s debut was a gig in Brighton.

Competing with The Rolling Stones, another Ealing Club regular, for local area gigs, Curtis’s band started to travel further afield, including the Whisky A Go Go in Manchester.

During 1963, they backed singer Roly Daniels for a show in Catford in Southeast London.

Wigginton remembers playing a club on Jermyn Street in central London in the early days. He also says the band performed at Chiswick Polytechnic, Wandsworth Polytechnic and Chiswick Town Hall during this period.

After working with a manager who also looked after local group Pete Nelson & The Travellers, Jeff Curtis & The Flames signed to Bob Potter’s agency and started working around the Surrey/Hampshire area, including the Agincourt Ballroom in Camberley.

During this time, they opened for Freddie & The Dreamers at Botwell House in Hayes, Middlesex and Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers at Kew Boathouse among others.

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #2 (Circa December 1962-December 1963)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Louis McKelvey – lead guitar

Keith Gardiner – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Malcolm Randall – saxophone (joined around March 1963)

Dave Wigginton – bass

Malcolm Tomlinson – drums/backing vocals

Jeff Curtis & The Flames, Walthamstow, north London, January 1963. Interestingly Jeff Curtis is playing the piano. This was before Malcolm Randall joined.

On 1 June 1963, Jeff Curtis & The Flames played their most high-profile gig to date, appearing with a number of local West London bands on the “Rock Twist Jive Channel Crossing”, a rock extravaganza that took place on-board the Channel ferry, the M V Royal Daffodil, which sailed from Southend, Essex to Boulogne. The billing included Tomlinson’s future band leader, Fulham-based singer Jimmy Marsh and his former Spring Grove class mate, Mick Underwood who was playing with The Outlaws and backing the show’s headline act, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Jeff Curtis & the Flames, 1963. Photo courtesy of Keith Gardiner. Left to right: Louis McKelvey, Keith Gardiner, Jeff Curtis, Malcolm Tomlinson, Dave Wigginton and Malcolm Randall
Jeff Curtis & the Flames, 1963. From left: Keith Gardiner, Louis McKelvey, Malcolm Tomlinson, Malcolm Randall, Dave Wigginton and Jeff Curtis (front)
Poster for the Channel Crossing, 1 June 1963. Image courtesy of Keith Gardiner

On 4 October 1963, Jeff Curtis & The Flames were given the opportunity to record some demos. The band (minus Malcolm Randall) cut a four-track acetate at Lansdowne Recording Studios on Lansdowne Road in Holland Park, which comprised covers of Chuck Berry’s “Bye Bye Johnny” and “It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes” (with Lenny Hastings on drums); Robert Allen and Richard Adler’s “Everybody Loves a Lover”; and Bobby Troup’s “Route 66”.

Two tracks were allegedly readied for release as a single for HMV but when this did not happen, Gardiner departed and dropped out of the music scene, although he did briefly sub for Ken Lundgren in The Outlaws at a few gigs.

Years later he formed his own band The Keith Gardiner Band (KGB), which performed around the Shepperton, Middlesex area.

Acid Jazz Records subsequently used one of the recordings for its Rare Mod CD series.

Notable gigs:

Photo: Walthamstow Guardian
Photo: Dave Wigginton. The Flames at Walthamstow Assembly Hall, January 1963

19 January 1963 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with The Gallions and Paul & The Alpines (billed as The Flames)

 

9 March 1963 – Hillingdon Club, Sevenoaks, Kent

Photo: Harrow Observer

20 March 1963 – British Legion Hall, South Harrow, Middlesex

Photo: Surrey Comet

3 May 1963 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with The Sinners (billed as The Flames) First time in Kingston

Photo: Woking Herald

10 May 1963 – Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey

 

1 June 1963 – Rock Twist Jive Channel Crossing with Jerry Lee Lewis & The Outlaws, The Four Whirlwinds, The Del-Lormes, Johnny Angel, Nero & The Gladiators, Dane Robert, Vicki Rowe, Ricky Valance, The Fabulous Fleerekkers, Colin Chapman and Jimmy Marsh

Photo: Surrey Comet

14 June 1963 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Tony Clayton & The Impalas (billed as The Fabulous Flames with saxophone backing)

20 July 1963 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

At Silver Blades Ice Rink, The Streatham News, August 2, 1963
At Silver Blades Ice Rink, The Streatham News, August 2, 1963

2-3 August 1963 – Silver Blades, Streatham, London

28 September 1963 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with Allen & The Blue Diamonds (billed as The Flames) According to Keith Gardiner who is in touch with the guitarist from Tommy Bruce’s band, The Flames actually played on 29 September as the opening act

Photo: Walthamstow Guardian

12 October 1963 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with Mel James & The Meltones and Jimmy Ritchie Combo (billed erroneously as Jess Curtis & The Flames)

30 November 1963 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #3 (December 1963-July 1964)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Louis McKelvey – lead guitar

Ray Soper – organ

Malcolm Randall – saxophone

Dave Wigginton – bass

Malcolm Tomlinson – drums/backing vocals

Jeff Curtis replaced Keith Gardiner with Putney, Surrey-based organist Ray Soper (b. 9 May 1941, Battersea, London), who would play with The Flames on several occasions over the next two years, venturing off to perform with various other local groups. Soper had gone to Sir Walter St John Grammar School in Battersea, south London and started playing classical piano at six years of age. In 1959, when he was 18 years old, Soper began working with local rock groups in the Chelsea area.

Around February 1964, the band did a demo session with Decca Records in West Hampstead but nothing came from it.

After leaving Bob Potter’s agency, Jeff Curtis & The Flames got work with the Roy Tempest agency. The new line up continued to gig widely but Tomlinson started to get bored.

In mid-summer the drummer took up an offer from former Fairlanes lead singer Jimmy Marsh, who he’d met on the cross Channel gig the previous summer, to join his new band, The Del Mar Trio. Tomlinson subsequently went on to play with The Noblemen, The Motivation, The Penny Peeps and Gethsemane before immigrating to Canada in January 1969 and continuing his musical career there. He subsequently worked with the likes of Bill King and Rick James among others and cut two solo albums in the late Seventies.

Notable gigs:

1 February 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The League of Gentlemen and The Dyaks

Photo: Walthamstow Guardian

29 February 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with Pat McQueen Combo and The Preachers

Opening for the Rattles, March 14, 1964
Opening for the Rattles, March 14, 1964

14 March 1964 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with The Rattles (billed as Geoff Curtis & The Flames)

26 March 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

 

2 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

4 April 1964 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales

5 April 1964 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex with The Rattles

9 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

16 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

23 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

30 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

 

2 May 1964 – Silver Blades, Streatham, London

14 May 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford

18 June 1964  – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Beds with Peter’s Faces

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #4 (July 1964-January 1965)

 Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Louis McKelvey – lead guitar

Malcolm Randall – saxophone

Ray Soper – keyboards (left around September 1964)

Dave Wigginton – bass

Pete Burt – drums

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Jeff Lake – saxophone (joined around September 1964)

The band’s new drummer was Pete Burt (b. 20 August 1946, Redhill, Surrey), younger brother of Mick Burt, sticks man with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, who answered an advert in the music press. Brought up in South Harrow, Middlesex where he attended Roxeth Manor School, Burt had previously played with a non-professional band that started life at Botwell House, Hayes backing singer Robert (Bob) Chambers.

In an amazing twist of fate, the lead guitarist in the band was Tony Bramwell, Pete Burt’s predecessor Malcolm Tomlinson’s former class mate from Spring Grove Grammar School in Isleworth. The band played a couple of gigs before splitting up around mid-1964. Bramwell then went on to play with local bands, The Fantoms, The Fantom Creed, The Sheratons and The Hum Drum Band.

Sometime in August, the band auditioned for Joe Meek for the first time.

Clockwise from bottom left: Dave Wigginton (bass), Malcolm Randall (sax), Pete Burt (drums), Jeff Curtis (vocals), Jeff Lake (sax) and Louis McKelvey (guitar). Photo: Dave Wigginton

Around late September 1964, Ray Soper was sacked and Malcolm Randall introduced his friend, sax player Jeff Lake. Soper immediately found work with Buddy Britten & The Regents alongside future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper. He would then work with Cyrano & The Bergeracs, where he reunited with Simper in 1965 but would remain on the fringes of The Flames.

Shortly after Jeff Lake’s arrival, the band returned to Lansdowne Recording Studios in October 1964 to record a two-track demo that included a cover of Solomon Burke and Bert Berns’ “Down In The Valley”.

McKelvey, however, was also growing restless and departed in early January 1965. On the afternoon of his wedding day (most likely in June 1965), he headed to Germany to reunite with former Jeff Curtis & The Flames drummer Malcolm Tomlinson, who was working with James Deane & The London Cats. The guitarist gigged with The London Cats for about a month before returning to London.

Then, around September 1965, McKelvey travelled to South Africa and ended up recording with The Upsetters and The A-Cads. In April 1966, The A-Cads moved to the UK to work with producer Mickie Most but when nothing happened, the guitarist moved to Montreal in September. Based in Canada, McKelvey recorded with Our Generation and Influence before returning to the UK in July 1968 briefly.

Back home he reunited with former Jeff Curtis & The Flames drummer Malcolm Tomlinson. The pair relocated to Toronto in January 1969 where they formed Milkwood and recorded an unreleased album with legendary producer, the late Jerry Ragavoy for Polydor Records. McKelvey would subsequently work with Toronto bands, Damage (alongside Tomlinson) and Powerhouse and record with Marble Hall. He currently lives in Toronto.

Notable gigs:

2 July 1964 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Beds with The All Stars

10 July 1964 – Berkhamsted Town Hall, Berkhamsted, Herts

11 July 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Clouds

18 July 1964 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire

 

1 August 1964 – The Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Swinging Sounds

6 August 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire

29 August 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Kit & The Saracens

8 October 1964  – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Beds with The Roulettes

5 December 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Midniters

8 December 1964 – Floral Hall, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk

19 December 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with The Hobos

 

2 January 1965 – St George’s Hall, Exeter, Devon with Roger & The Sabres (billed as The Flames)

3 January 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Beds with The Mojos

Jeff Curtis & the Flames, late ’64. From left: Louis McKelvey, Jeff Curtis, Dave Wigginton, Pete Burt (front on drums), Jeff Lake and Malcolm Randall.

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #5 (January-February 1965)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Dave Caralambous (aka Dave Carol) – lead guitar

Jeff Lake – saxophone

Malcolm Randall – saxophone

Dave Wigginton – bass

Pete Burt – drums

Dave Marcus Theos Michael Caralambous aka Dave Carol (b. Dave Charalambous, 14 January 1949, Isleworth, Middlesex) was brought up in nearby Twickenham. His first band was The Drovers, which he joined around 1962 and also included rhythm guitarist Richard Allen and drummer Geoff Coxon, who would feature in The Flames’ history in later years when they changed name to The Kool.

In late 1963, The Drovers changed name to The Smokestacks after lead singer Mike Smith joined and Brian Hosking from Twickenham band, The Legend, joined on bass. The Smokestacks became resident band at the 51 Club in central London. In the summer of 1964, Carol joined Hounslow band, The Valkeries and remained with them until January 1965 when he joined The Flames. He was also in the same class at school as McKelvey’s younger sister. Carol says he made his debut at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon.

The changes, however, didn’t end there. Sax player Malcolm Randall left in early February and subsequently joined Bognor Regis band Beau Brummell & The Noblemen for about six months. In July 1965, he jumped ship to join Manchester’s Playboys.

While with that band, Randall appeared on an excellent soul single for Fontana – “I Feel So Good” c/w “I Close My Eyes”. In an incredible twist of fate, during late 1966, Malcolm Randall was playing with Manchester’s Playboys at Liverpool’s Cavern Club when he saw the latest version of The Noblemen on stage and was amazed to see his former Jeff Curtis & The Flames compatriot Malcolm Tomlinson playing drums!

After leaving Manchester’s Playboys in mid-1968, Malcolm Randall moved to Cambridgeshire and ended up working with Red Express during the 1970s, which later morphed (after Randall had left) into Shakatak. He then worked with Sindy & The Action Men among others.

In need of a replacement, Jeff Lake introduced his friend from Harrow – George Russell.

Notable gigs:

11 January 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Sonny Childe & The Elders Consolidated

22 January 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

23 January 1965 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire with The Fourmost

28 January 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire with Johnny Thunder & The Thunderbirds

 

13 February 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with The Searchers and Rodgers Lodgers (possibly one of George Russell’s first gigs)

Jeff Curtis & the Flames listed as one of the Roy Tempest Organisation’s Top 20 for 1965

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #6 (February-April 1965)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Dave Caralambous (aka Dave Carol) – lead guitar, vocals

Jeff Lake – saxophone

George Russell – saxophone

Dave Wigginton – bass

Pete Burt – drums

With two of the early band members gone, including his former band mate from Johnny & The Pursuers, Louis McKelvey, Dave Wigginton handed in his notice and agreed to work until mid-April. His replacement was Ray Brown (b. 1944, Hayes, Middlesex), who ended up buying Wigginton’s pink Fender Precision bass. Having rehearsed with Jeff Curtis’s band since January, Brown made his debut with Jeff Curtis & The Flames at Walthamstow Assembly Hall on 24 April.

Photo: Walthamstow Guardian

Brown started with the Sky Blue Skiffle Group in 1956 and two years later appeared on BBC TV’s Carol Levis Junior Discoveries. In 1961-1962, he worked with Hayes band The Preachers and also spent a brief period in a short-lived group with Nick Simper. Soon after joining The Flames, Brown and his school friend Steve Reading from the Sky Blue Skiffle Group wrote and sang backing vocals on “Heart Full of Sorrow” by Heinz, which was released on Columbia in November 1965.

Notable gigs:

28 February 1965 – Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with Circuit Five

5-6 March 1965 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire with The McCoys

At the Starlight Room, Boston, April 3, 1965 with the Barron Knights
At the Starlight Room, Boston, April 3, 1965 with the Barron Knights

3 April 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with The Barron Knights

9 April 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Escorts and Beaux Maverix (billed as Geoff Curtis & The Flames)

10 April 1965 – Floral Hall, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk with Confessors

17 April 1965 – The Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Sons of Adam

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #7 (April-July 1965)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Dave Caralambous (aka Dave Carol) – lead guitar, vocals

Jeff Lake – saxophone

George Russell – saxophone

Ray Brown – bass

Pete Burt – drums

The new line up gigged around the country and on 9 May appeared on the same bill as Beau Brummell & The Noblemen (featuring former member Malcolm Randall) at the Majestic Ballroom in Luton.

A few days after a gig at Clacton Town Hall with Cops ‘N’ Robbers in late June, Jeff Lake and George Russell took a holiday (a trip to Frankfurt to visit former member Malcolm Randall who was playing with Beau Brummell & The Noblemen), which didn’t go down well with singer Jeff Curtis.

Curtis had a band rule that the musicians all had to take a two-week summer holiday at the same time, usually in August. On their return in July, the two sax players were told their services were no longer needed.

Lake subsequently played with a number of local bands before reuniting with former Jeff Curtis & The Flames member Malcolm Randall as road manager for Manchester’s Playboys, which included their Swedish trip in September 1967. On his return, he joined Tommy Bishop & The Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival Show and appeared on the 1968 Decca single “Midnight Train” c/w “Oh Boy”.

Russell joined Hayes, Middlesex band, The Satellites in mid-1966, who changed name to The Army later that year. The band also included future Sweet bass player Steve Priest and cut two recordings in 1967 – covers of the Joe Tex hit “Sugar” and Sam & Dave’s “You Don’t Know Like I Know”. Russell remained with The Army until late 1968/early 1969. He subsequently gigged with Orange Rainbow before moving to Australia. He later returned to live in Hertfordshire.

Notable gigs:

Ray Brown's first gig with the band, April 24, 1965
Ray Brown’s first gig with the band, April 24, 1965

24 April 1965 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London

29 April 1965 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (back by demand)

1 May 1965 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford with The Gangbusters

3 May 1965 – Radlett (most likely Radlett Centre), Hertfordshire

7-8 May 1965 – Silver Blades, Streatham, London

9 May 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton with Beau Brummell & The Noblemen (former member Malcolm Randall on sax with The Noblemen)

15 May 1965 – Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with Eric Benson & Orchestra

22 May 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester with The Thingumajigs (Stockport County Express) Gig cancelled

29 May 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with The Hollies and The Red Squares

 

11 June 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable (replaced one of the billed acts)

12 June 1965 – Rivoli Ballroom, Brockley, London

18 June 1965 – USAF base, South Ruislip, London

25 June 1965 – USAF base, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

26 June 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex with Cops ‘N’ Robbers (last gig with Jeff Lake and George Russell)

 

1 July 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, London (reduced to four piece)

3 July 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Peter Fenton & The 3,000

4 July 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

August 1965, from left: Jeff Curtis, Ray Soper, Dave Carol, Pete Burt and Ray Brown. Photo courtesy Ray Soper
When they were just being billed as The Flames. Photo courtesy Ray Soper. From left: Ray Soper, Dave Carol, Pete Burt, Ray Brown and Jeff Curtis

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #8 (July 1965-May 1966)

Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Dave Caralambous (aka Dave Carol) – lead guitar, vocals

Ray Soper – keyboards

Ray Brown – bass

Pete Burt – drums

On 5 July, Jeff Curtis auditioned two sax players to replace Jeff Lake and George Russell but decided against keeping the horns and instead invited former member Ray Soper to re-join the band on keyboards. Soper had been playing with future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper in Cyrano & The Bergeracs for several months and then a group formed by the lead singer of The Gobbledegooks but had helped out at the auditions in January 1965, which had brought in Carol and Brown.

Ray Brown had a prearranged week’s holiday from 10-17 July and his predecessor Dave Wigginton returned to honour engagements in his absence, which included a gig at the Ticky Rick Club in Basingstoke, Hants on 17 July. With Brown back from his holiday, the five-piece rehearsed on 21 July before playing their first gig together at Luton’s Majestic Ballroom where there was a bomb scare.

Often billed as simply “The Flames”, the new line up lasted nearly a year (although Soper left in November briefly to work with a Casino band on the Isle of Man, which lasted a week before he returned).

Pete Burt, who worked as a window cleaner when The Flames weren’t gigging, got a window cleaning job with British rock ‘n’ roll legend, Johnny Kidd, who had split from his longstanding backing band, The Pirates on 19 April 1966. Kidd offered The Flames some work to fulfil his outstanding dates.

During late April/early May 1966, The Flames spent about a week  backing the singer, including playing a gig at Chatham Dockyard Naval base, but the arrangement did not suit either party.

Around this time, The Flames returned to Lansdowne Studios to cut two original recordings – the David Myers/Ray Brown collaborations, “Room at the Top” and “I Ain’t The Fool”. The former was later cut by the band’s new identity, The Kool, in the summer of 1967. They also did a second audition with Joe Meek.

After Ray Soper was ousted from The Flames in May, he decided to stick with Kidd and formed a new version of The Pirates. The New Pirates (as they were called) supported Johnny Kidd throughout the summer but Soper stopped playing with the band in August. Two months later, he joined Bristol band, The Denims who were playing US bases in France. After working in Strasbourg for two months as The Headline News, he returned to the UK in April 1967.

Three months later, Soper found work playing in a band on the Cunard Cruise liner Carmania, which travelled between Southampton and Montreal on a six-week passage. Marrying a Canadian, he subsequently immigrated to Canada in 1970 and until recently played with The Dusty Roads Band from his home in Ontario. He also works as a film extra.

Notable gigs:

17 July 1965 – Ricky Tick Club, Carnival Hall, Basingstoke, Hants (Dave Wigginton fills in for Ray Brown)

22 July 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire (RayBrown returns and Ray Soper’s first gig back with the band)

24 July 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Rising Sons

Photo: Leicester Mercury

25 September 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester

Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express

2 October 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire

30 October 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

Photo: Surrey Comet

11 November 1965 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, London with The Keystones (billed as The Flames)

Jeff Curtis & The Flames were featured in the Surrey Comet‘s 13 November 1965 issue but it was full of factual errors (above)

9 December 1965 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, London with the Harmonies

16 December 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, London

18 December 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire

24 December 1965 – Woodstock Roadhouse, North Cheam, London

 

1 January 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Lincolnshire with The Nashville Teens and The Game

13 January 1966 – Woodstock Roadhouse, North Cheam, London (billed as The Flames)

22 January 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Plain and Fancy

12 February 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Goldie & Dave Antony’s Moods and The Game

17 February 1966 – Byron Roadhouse, Greenford, London with The Mode (billed as The Flames)

 

31 March 1966 – Byron Roadhouse, Greenford, London with The Legends (billed as The Flames)

Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express

23 April 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire

 

7 May 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Ying Yongs and The Cotswold Stones (one of Ray Soper’s final gigs)

Publishing contract for “Room at the Top” and “I Aint the Fool”, May 1966 courtesy of Ray Brown
Headline News, circa late 1966. Ray Soper is second from left

Jeff Curtis & The Flames #9 (May 1966-August 1967)

 Jeff Curtis – lead vocals

Dave Carol – lead guitar, vocals

Jet Hodges (aka Richard Hodgins) – keyboards, vocals

Ray Brown – bass

Pete Burt – drums

The remaining members brought in Richard Hodgins, a keyboard player from Shepperton, Surrey, who used the stage name, Jet Hodges. Originally a bass player, Hodges had taken up music full time after training to be an architect.

Increasingly, the band moved away from using the name, Jeff Curtis & The Flames for live shows and often went by the name, The Jeff Curtis Set or just The Flames. One of the highlights from this period was opening for Ike & Tina Turner when they played at the California Ballroom in Dunstable.

In late 1966, rock promoter and entrepreneur Mervyn Conn, started to represent the band. In December 1966, he added Jeff Curtis & The Flames to a Who concert in Sunderland and renamed the band The Kool for this one-off gig, although the group didn’t appear at the venue.

After signing to CBS Records, Conn decided that The Kool was more representative of the band’s evolving sound and renamed them as the band’s debut single hit the shops.

Notable gigs:

11 June 1966 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Two of Each (billed as The Flames)

 

20 August 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Showmen

Photo: Paul Quinton

2 September 1966 – Woodstock Roadhouse, North Cheam, London (billed as The Flames)

3 September 1966 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton with Sexion A (billed as The Flames)

18 September 1966 – White Lion, Edgware, London (billed as The Flames)

24 September 1966 – Drill Hall, North Cheam, London with The Fourtunes

Photo: Paul Quinton

2 October 1966 – Prince of Wales, Kinsbury, London

22 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable with Ike & Tina Turner Revue & The Ikettes (with others)

24 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Edwin Starr

Photo: Paul Quinton

30 October 1966 – Woodstock Roadhouse, North Cheam, London (billed as The Flames)

 

5 November 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Undertakers and Some Other Guys. Billed as The London Flames (Jeff Curtis)

10 November 1966 – Byron Roadhouse, Greenford, London with The Boots (billed as The Flames)

Photo: Paul Quinton

12 November 1966 – Drill Hall, North Cheam, London with 5 Steps Beyond (billed as The Flames)

Photo: Windsor, Slough & Eton Express

13 November 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire

18 November 1966 – Woodstock Roadhouse, North Cheam, London (billed as The Flames)

 

10 December 1966 – Empire Theatre, Sunderland, County Durham with The Who, Dave Berry, She Trinity, The Slade Brothers and The Peddlers (billed as The Kool but band did not appear)

18 December 1966 – Woodstock Roadhouse, North Cheam, London (billed as The Flames)

 

15 January 1967 – White Lion, Edgware, London (billed as The Flames)

28 January 1967 – Queens Hall, Watton, Norfolk with The Eyes of Blond and The Bohemians

 

19 February 1967 – Kingsway Theatre, Hadleigh, Essex (billed as Flames)

 

9 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, Essex with The Style (billed as Jeff Curtis Set)

27 March 1967 – Woodstock, North Cheam, London with The Starfires (billed as The Flames)

 

9 June 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Allen Bown Set (billed as Geoff Curtis Set)

The Keith Gardiner Band, July 2011

Many thanks to Dave Wigginton, Keith Gardiner, Louis McKelvey, Malcolm Tomlinson, Pete Burt, Dave Carol, Malcolm Randall, Ray Soper, Jeff Lake, Ray Brown, George Russell, Jimmy Marsh, Ian Hannah, Brian Hosking, Richard Bennett and Tony Bramwell.

Concert adverts taken from a number of newspapers including the Ampthill News & Weekly Record, Lincolnshire Standard, the Luton News, the Streatham News, the Surrey Comet, Walthamstow Guardian, Exeter Express & Echo, Cambridgeshire Times, Yarmouth Mercury, Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette, Hertfordshire Express, Hants & Berkshire Gazette, Hounslow Post, NME, Sevenoaks Chronicle, Westerham Courier and Kentish Advertiser and Melody Maker.

Huge thanks to Dave Wigginton, Keith Gardiner, Louis McKelvey, Malcolm Randall, Jeff Lake, Ray Brown and Ray Soper for photos.

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

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

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