Guitarist Mick Abrahams formed Blodwyn Pig in his home town Luton, Bedfordshire in the first few weeks of January 1969 after leaving Jethro Tull in early December 1968.
Bass player Andy Pyle had previously been a member of Abrahams’ pre-Jethro Tull group, McGregor’s Engine while sax/flute player Jack Lancaster was from Manchester and was working with the group Sponge when he got the call.
The trio advertised for a drummer and Ron Berg who’d been working with White Rabbit (singer Linda Lewis fronted them at one point) answered and got the job.
In his autobiography, What is a Wommett?, Mick Abrahams says that Blodwyn Pig rehearsed for a week before making their debut at the Cooks Ferry Inn in Edmonton, north London.
Melody Maker lists this as 27 January and notes that the quartet was billed as The Mick Abrahams Blues Band. In fact, Abrahams’ new group was billed under his own name rather than Blodwyn Pig for its first few gigs.
The following is an incomplete gig list of Blodwyn Pig 1969 gigs which are all listed in Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.
I’d welcome any additions. The band is billed as Blodwyn Pig unless noted.
Notable gigs:
27 January 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (debut) Billed as Mick Abrahams Blues Band
Melody Maker’s 1 February issue, page 4, reports the new band and name under its news extra section
1 February 1969 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon (Jonathan Hill’s book, Van Dike – The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972). Billed as Mick Abrahams Band
7 February 1969 – Bedford College, Regent’s Park, central London with Chicken Shack. Billed as Mick Abrahams Band
13 February 1969 – Red Lion, Leytonstone, east London. Billed as Mick Abrahams
Image may be subject to copyright
21 February 1969 – Blues Loft, Nag’s Head, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
Melody Maker’s 22 February issue, page 6, says the band made its Marquee debut last week but I have not found a listing elsewhere. Monday night (17 February) was audition night so this is the possible date
22 February 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Keef Hartley
3 March 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London. Billed as Mick Abrahams
Image may be subject to copyright
15 March 1969 – London College of Printing, Elephant & Castle, south London with Chicken Shack and Jellybread. Billed as Mick Abrahams Band
22 March 1969 – Mothers, Erdginton, West Midlands with Led Zeppelin
28 March 1969 – Hornsey Wood Tavern, Hornsey Wood, north London. Billed as Mick Abrahams Blodwyn Pigg
29 March 1969 – The Village, Dagenham, east London with Killing Floor and Yellow Dog. Billed as Mick Abrahams
2 April 1969 – Rambling Jack’s Blues Club, the Railway Hotel, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless’ book The Day Before Yesterday – Rock, Rhythm and Jazz in the Bishop’s Stortford area from 1957 to 1969)
15 April 1969 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London. Billed as Mick Abrahams Blodwyn Pig
18 April 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Circus (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
19 April 1969 – London College of Printing, Elephant & Castle, south London with Climax Chicago Blues Band and Smiley
20 April 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Dr K’s Blues Band
22 April 1969 – Bluesville ’69 Club’s Cherry Tree, Welwyn Garden City, Herts
23 April 1969 – Blues Loft, Nag’s Head, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
25 April 1969 – Northern Poly, Holloway Road, north London with Elmer Gantry
28 April 1969 – Wall City Jazz Club, Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Frankie & The Countdowns and Shady Lane (Liverpool Echo) Billed as Mick Abrahams Blues Band
29 April 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
9 May 1969 – Bedford College, Regent’s Park, central London with Free
10 May 1969 – Luton College of Technology Students’ Union, Luton, Beds with The Spirit of John Morgan and Mechanical Bird (Blodwyn Pig concert Wiki site)
20 May 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Grail (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 May 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Sam Apple Pie (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
2 June 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
16 June 1969 – The Pavilion, Bath (Poster) Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
20 June 1969 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Led Zeppelin and Liverpool Scene (Blodwyn Pig concert Wiki site)
22 June 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with The Taste
25 June 1969 – Derwent College, York, North Yorkshire with Bonzo Dog Band, John Mayall, Ronnie Scott & His Band, Eclection and Alexis Korner & Invaders Steel Band (Blodwyn Pig concert Wiki site)
26 June 1969– Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hants with Led Zeppelin and The Liverpool Scene (Blodwyn Pig concert Wiki site)
27 June 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Groundhogs (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
28 June 1969 – Bath Festival of Blues, Recreation Ground, Bath with Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, John Mayall, Chicken Shack, Nice, Ten Years After and many, many others. Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
29 June 1969 – Albert Hall, Knightsbridge, central London with Led Zeppelin and The Liverpool Scene. Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
30 June 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
6 July 1969 – Farx, the Northcote Arms, Southall, west London. Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
11 July 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Andromeda (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
11 July 1969 – Brunel University Students’ Union, Brunel University, London with The Soft Machine, Aaardvark and Good Earth. Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
14 July 1969 – Friars, Aylesbury, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
25 July 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Circus (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
2 August 1969 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo) Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
5 August 1969 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Wine
Melody Maker’s 9 August issue, p12, has a good write up entitled ‘Blodwyn Pig continue with the heavy sound’.
Photo: Possibly Gloucester Citizen. Image may be subject to copyright
9 August 1969 – Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with Clouds (Poster)
10 August 1969 – 9th National Jazz, Pop, Ballads & Blues Festival, West Drayton, west London with The Nice, Family, Keef Hartley, Steamhammer and many others. Billed as Mick Abraham’s Blodwyn Pig
15 August 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Grail (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
20 August 1969 – Rambling Jack’s Blues Club, the Railway Hotel, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless’ book The Day Before Yesterday – Rock, Rhythm and Jazz in the Bishop’s Stortford area from 1957 to 1969) Concert was cancelled due to summer recess
22 August 1969 – Blues Loft, Nag’s Head, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
25 August 1969 – King’s Hall, Romford Market, Romford, east London
29 August 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Samson (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
Melody Maker’s 30 August issue, page 24 notes that the band missed some dates because Ron Berg was ill
16 September 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with King Crimson
18 September 1969 – Social Club, Aylesbury, Bucks
21 September 1969 – Farx, the Northcote Arms, Southall, west London. Billed as Mick Abrahams Blodwyn Pig
22 September 1969 – The Village of the Damned Blues Club, Aurora Ballroom, Brompton, Gillingham, Kent with support (Poster)
26 September 1969 – King’s Hall, Romford, east London with Stone The Crows
Image may be subject to copyright
29 September 1969 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Beds with Jesse Harper
30 September 1969 – The Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ground (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live/Melody Maker)
White Rabbit in late 1967/early 1968. Left to right: Brian Henderson, Junior Kerr, Terry Stannard, Linda Lewis, Andy Rickell, Ralph Richardson. Photo courtesy of Rod Goodway.
A fascinating, yet short-lived band that included a number of notable musicians who went on to greater things.
The original White Rabbit line-up came together about November 1967 around singers Junior Kerr and Linda Lewis, who’d met earlier that year as members of Herbie Goins & The Night Timers.
Junior Kerr, incidentally, had started out with The Blue-Ace-Unit while Lewis had performed with John Lee Hooker in 1964 and sung with The Q-Set before they backed Maxine Brown and then Ronnie Jones.
White Rabbit was managed jointly by Ian Samwell (Lewis’ manager) and Laurie O’Leary, who managed the Speakeasy club in London.
Linda Lewis in Record Mirror. Thanks to David Else for the cutting
The band’s guitarist Andy Rickell and drummer Terry Stannard had both previously worked together in Calne, Wiltshire band, The Pack during 1966 with future White Rabbit singer Rod Goodway. The trio had also played with another, albeit short-lived, Wiltshire group, Flower of Wisdom between February-June 1967.
When Flower of Wisdom broke up, Terry Stannard moved to London where he joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, which is probably how he ran into Junior Kerr, who’d formed his own band, The Junior ‘Pretty Boy’ Kerr Group around October 1967. In fact, Stannard may well have been a member of this band after working with Freddie Mack (and possibly may have been with Herbie Goins briefly).
Meanwhile, Rickell and Goodway began working with the studio project J P Sunshine, which they kept together after Rickell joined White Rabbit (possibly also after a short stint with Herbie Goins) and Goodway was invited to replace Art Wood in the post-Artwoods band, St Valentine’s Day Massacre between January-April 1968.
The original version of White Rabbit was completed with two additional musicians, rhythm guitarist/singer Brian Henderson, who’d recently been part of Nirvana’s backing band and was previously in The Soul Mates and Liza Strike & The Jet Set, and bass player Ralph Richardson, who’d worked with Henderson in The Jet Set.
According to the Redbridge & Ilford Recorder, White Rabbit played at El Grotto in Ilford, east London on 9-10 December 1967.
After a short Italian tour, which included playing in Turin (see poster above) and billed as Junior Kerr and Linda Lewis and White Rabbit, they performed at the “Big C” club in Farnborough on 24 February 1968.
On 10 March, White Rabbit returned to play at El Grotto in Ilford, east London, according to the Redbridge & Ilford Recorder.
The band also played at the Revolution Club in central London before travelling to France to perform, which included a few weeks in Biarritz (most likely the Canasta Club).
On their return in late March, Terry Stannard departed, later working with Mirrors (with Boz Burrell and Nick Judd), Alan Marshall’s band One and Kokomo among others. Kerr remembers a Jewish drummer called Mick, who briefly filled in.
However, Junior Kerr also departed in late March and formed his own band, Junior’s Conquest who debuted in early April. (Ed. He is seen on French TV playing with Herbie Goins in April 1968 but this must be a recording from 1967.) In later years, he would change his name to Junior Marvin and work alongside Bob Marley.
Brian Henderson, who later worked with J J Jackson, and Ralph Richardson also departed.
On 6 April, the group was advertised playing on the French TV show Bouton Rouge but it’s not clear if this definitely happened. If they did appear, this would have been the broadcast date and would have been recorded in March while they were working in France.
Thanks to Bruno Ceriotti for photo
Linda Lewis and Andy Rickell meanwhile pieced together a new version of White Rabbit in late March 1968. Rickell recruited his former Pack and J P Sunshine colleague, singer Rod Goodway, who’d left St Valentine’s Day Massacre, to replace Junior Kerr.
Rod Goodway shortly after joining White Rabbit
The pair also recruited drummer Ron Berg, who interestingly had also played with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (alongside Stannard) during mid-late 1967.
To complete the new version, they added Cyprus-born bass player Pete Pavli and organist Mick Aron.
Redbridge & Ilford Recorder has them playing at the El Grotto in Ilford on 4 April. It is possible this may have been just with Linda Lewis singing before Rod Goodway joined.
White Rabbit in St Tropez. Left to right: Ron Berg, Rod Goodway, Linda Lewis and Peter Pavli. Courtesy Rod Goodway
Almost immediately, the new White Rabbit left the UK for the south of France and performed at the Papagayo Club in St Tropez for three weeks, starting in the first week of May.
The musicians were back in London for a notable gig at the Middle Earth club in Covent Garden, opening for Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band on 25 May. The group also opened for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown around August.
Around August/September 1968, however, Rod Goodway and Linda Lewis both left, the latter to embark on a successful solo career after fronting Ferris Wheel where she played alongside future Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott.
Pete Pavli also left to join High Tide while Mick Aron went on to work with Pete Brown.
Andy Rickell and Ron Berg kept the band going until around November/December of that year, bringing in a number of musicians, including Hammond organist Peter Jennings, who subsequently joined Cressida in September 1969.
Jennings says that he worked with Berg at Sidney Bron’s ‘Bron’s Orchestral Service’ in Oxford Street and then Newman Street, collecting music from publishers in the area and sending them to customers.
The Hammond organist recalls that they also had a singer, who he thinks came from Leicester and a trumpet player from Wales.
He remembers that Laurie O’Leary was still managing the group and that they rehearsed in a gym on Tottenham Court Road. Jennings recalls a gig in Ilford (most likely El Grotto; there is a guest group appearing there on 14 November 1968) one at Sybilla’s in Swallow Street, central London before splitting.
On the band’s demise, Ron Berg joined Mick Abrahams’ post-Jethro Tull group, Blodwyn Pig while Rickell later joined The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
Jennings worked with several bands before joining Cressida, including one with guitarist Ged Peck called Storm. The others were Van Dyke and Luther Morgan.
This author would be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further information. Huge thanks to Rod Goodway for photos and background information.
Cover of Freddy Mack’s Live album, re-released by Acid Jazz
Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.
Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians. Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.
Thanks to the recollections of former Doc Thomas Group lead guitarist Dave Tedstone, who took over from Stuart Taylor (himself deputising for Ged Peck) the band’s formation included the following when he joined on 5 April 1967:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Derry Wilkie – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Kookie Eaton – lead vocals
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar
Roy Davies – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Dick Morrisey – tenor saxophone
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Dawe – trumpet
Jeff Bridge – tenor saxophone
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Roger Truth – drums
As Tedstone explains, his guitar playing was closer in style to ex-Pirate Mick Green than Ged Peck’s, who Taylor had been covering for.
Tedstone remembers that Dick Morrisey departed during the early half of the year (although he would return in late November). Also, Derry Wilkie left during May or June 1967 to pursue a solo career.
In mid-June Roger Truth announced his decision to move on and auditions were held later that month (see below in gig listing). Two drummers were brought in to replace him.
The first was Terry Stannard, who had previously played with The Pack and The Flowers of Wisdom and would go on to work with White Rabbit, The Mirrors, One and Kokomo among others. The other drummer was Ron Berg, who succeeded him in White Rabbit before playing with Blodwyn Pig.
Mistakenly credited to 1966, it was this formation (minus Derry Wilkie and Dick Morrisey) that appeared on the album, The Fantastic Freddy Mack Show – ‘Live’ at ‘Toft’s Club’ Folkestone. Tedstone says that not many venues at the time had stages that were large enough to accommodate a dual drum set up.
As a result, Terry Stannard played the first set and Ron Berg played the second. On the album, which was cut in mid-July (see the gig listing below but most likely date is 15 July), Stannard appears on side one while Berg is on side two.
Selected gigs:
5 April 1967 – Birmingham gig (marks Dave Tedstone’s debut)
Tedstone says his debut was in Birmingham but I’ve looked in the newspapers and there is no listing. I wonder whether he mistakenly attributed this to Freddie Mack and not Jimmy James & The Vagabonds who he joined in early 1968.
6 April 1967 – Overseas Visitors Club, west London (This was most likely Earl’s Court)
8 April 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
12 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Cortinas (Says 14-piece band)
14 April 1967 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire
15 April 1967 – Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire
19 April 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Around this time Melody Maker advert says it’s a 10-piece band)
20 April 1967 – Gig in Stafford, Dorset
21 April 1967 – Steering Wheel Club, Dorchester, Dorset
22 April 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
23 April 1967 – Cromer, Norfolk (most likely the Olympia)
24 April 1967 – BBC recording (according to Melody Maker)
25 April 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
Derry Wilkie left around now or in June. Dick Morrisey most likely left around the same time but returned in late November.
5 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Bohemians
6 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Two of Each and New Jump Band
11 May 1967 – Overseas Visitors Club, west London (most likely Earl’s Court)
12 May 1967 – Kinkotab, Hitchin College of Further Education, Hitchin, Herts with The Triads
13 May 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The En-Devers
13 May 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Executive
14 May 1967 – Garden Club (location not known but most likely Covent Garden, London)
16 May 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
17 May 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
18 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London
19 May 1967 – King Alfred’s College, Winchester, Hampshire
20 May 1967 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton
21 May 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
23 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands
23 May 1967 – Melody Maker says this is a day of rest. However, I’ve found references to gigs in Warrington and also Bournemouth (the latter with The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas and The Pill)
24 May 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Associates
26 May 1967 – Golden Diamond, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
27 May 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
29 May 1967 – Belfry Hotel, Wishaw, West Midlands with The Monopoly and The Exception
30 May 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
31 May 1967 – RANS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
1 June 1967 – RANS Arbroath, Arbroath, Scotland
2 June 1967 – Gig in Hawick, Scotland
3 June 1967 – Gig in Kelso, Scotland
4 June 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria
5-8 June 1967 – Gigs in Paris, France
9 June 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire
10 June 1967 – Jazz & Blues Festival ’67, Norwich, Norfolk with The Small Faces, The Ronnie Scott Quartet, Spencer’s Washboard Kings, The Settlers, Mike Daniels’ Big Band and The Broads City Blueblowers
11 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
11 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
12 June 1967 – Three Horseshoes, Letchworth, Herts
13 June 1967 – Concorde Club, Southampton, Hampshire
14 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
16 June 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester
17 June 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire
18 June 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham
19 June 1967 – Carton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
20 June 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 June 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Blood & Sand
22 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes
23-24 June 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall
Melody Maker reports that Freddie Mack auditioned for a drummer and 74 turned up after he’d advertised in the music paper. This seems the most plausible point at which Roger Truth announces he is leaving.
25 June 1967 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset
26 June 1967 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
26 June 1967 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk
27 June 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch
28 June 1967 – De Valance Ballroom, Tenby, Wales
30 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Force Four
Roger Truth left around about now and Terry Stannard and Ron Berg joined.
1 July 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
2 July 1967 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
4 July 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
6 July 1967 – Huntington Youth Centre, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
7 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Hertfordshire with The Shell Shock Show
8 July 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
9 July 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
10 July 1967 – Melody Maker says they are recording
11 July 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
12 July 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
14 July 1967 – Grammar School, Gravesend, Kent
15 July 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (this is the most likely date for the recording of the LP)
16 July 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
18 July 1967 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
19 July 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall
21 July 1967 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon
22 July 1967 – Purple Fez, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon
23 July 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London
25 July 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands
27 July 1967 – RAF Witham, Lincolnshire
28 July 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with The Beachcombers
29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Barry, Glamorgan, Wales
30 July 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands
Terry Standard left around about now (most likely to join Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers but then subsequently White Rabbit).
1-2 August 1967 – Gigs in Paris, France
5 August 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
9 August 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Modesty Blues
10 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Californians
11 August 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall
12 August 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall
14 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
15 August 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (billed as Freddy Mack & The Mack Sound featuring Hon-ey!)
16 August 1967 – Gig in Scotland (needs confirmation)
18 August 1967 – Gay Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Bobby Johnson Big Band
19 August 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
20 August 1967 – Beau Brummel, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire
21 August 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
22 August 1967 – Concorde, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
25 August 1967 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire
26-27 August 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
28 August 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Town Hall, Herts (needs confirmation)
29 August 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset
30 August 1967 – Tropicana Club, Croydon, south London
31 August 1967 – Scottish tour commences today and runs until 12 September
1-2 September 1967 – Two Red Shoes, Elgin, Scotland
L-R: Terry Stannard, Alan Cartwright, Roy Davies and Dave Tedstone
8 September 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with The T-Set
9 September 1967 – Civic, Wrexham, Wales with Dynamic Honey and System 5 (not possible considering other Scottish dates)
9 September 1967 – Gig in Aberdeen, Scotland
10 September 1967 – RNAS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
11-12 September 1967 – More gigs in Scotland
13 September 1967 – Travel to Belgium for gigs
17 September 1967 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent with Honey
24 September 1967 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
29 September 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gabb and The Scots of St James
30 September 1967 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Survivors
1 October 1967 – Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire
2 October 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians and Barmy Barry’s Show
4 October 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
6 October 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester
7 October 1967 – Enfield College of Technology, Enfield, north London
8 October 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham
9 October 1967 – Bluesville ‘6 Clubs, St Matthew’s Bath Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk
12 October 1967 – Brays Grove Youth Club, Harlow, Essex
13 October 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Pink Floyd and Denis Scott & The Soundsmen
14 October 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
15 October 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent
16 October 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
17 October 1967 – Concorde, Bassett Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
18 October 1967 – Travel to Paris, France
19-30 October 1967 – Gigs in Belgium
31 October 1967 – Shenley Green Youth Club, Shenley Green, West Midlands
2 November 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
3 November 1967 – Apex Club, Ashford, Kent
4 November 1967 – Earlham Park, Norwich, Norfolk with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
5 November 1967 – Cosmo Club, Carlisle, Cumbria with The Reg Jones Explosion
6 November 1967 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire
7 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
8 November 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire with The Gospel Garden, Delroys Good Good Band and The Disturbance
10 November 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham
10 November 1967 – Digbeth Civic Hall, Digbeth, West Midlands
11 November 1967 – Bradford University, Student Union, Bradford, West Yorkshire
11 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (needs confirmation)
12 November 1967 – South Bank Jazz Club, Grimsby
13 November 1967 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
14 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
15 November 1967 – The Catacombs, Eastbourne, East Sussex
17 November 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Dipps (Gloucester Citizen)
18 November 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales with The Rayners (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)
19 November 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation
20 November 1967 – Bamboo Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester
Around this time, Dick Morrisey rejoins on tenor sax (according to Melody Maker‘s 25 November issue, page 3).
21-26 November 1967 – Gigs in Scotland (Aberdeen gigs may not have happened)
21 November 1967 – Two Red Shoes, Elgin, Scotland (billed as Freddie Mack & His Road Show) (advert lists 16-piece band) (Source: https://tworedshoes.wordpress.com/)
23 November 1967 – RNAS Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland
24 November 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with The Brown Heart Federation
25-26 November 1967 – Gigs in Aberdeen, Scotland
25 November 1967 – West Runton Pavilion, West Runton, Norfolk with The Sonics (probably rescheduled to 2 December gig below)
27 November 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire
29 November 1967 – Reading Town Hall, Reading, Berkshire with The Beachcombers and Memphis Gents
Ron Berg left around this time and subsequently joined White Rabbit. Colin Davy, who’d worked with Georgie Fame in late 1967 joined.
1 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
2 December 1967– West Runton Pavilion, West Runton, Norfolk
6 December 1967– Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Tramline ’67
7 December 1967 – Medway College of Art, Rochester, Kent
8 December 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire
9 December 1967 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation
10 December 1967 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset
11 December 1967 – St Matthew’s Bath Halls, Ipswich
12 December 1967 – Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire
14 December 1967 – RAF Whitton (assuming this is Whitton, London)
15 December 1967 – Red Spot Club, Whetstone, Leicester with The Changing Scene
16 December 1967 – Night Prowler, Yarmouth, Norfolk with Combined Achievement
17 December 1967 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry, West Midlands
19 December 1967 – Queen’s Hotel, Grays, Essex
22 December 1967– Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
23 December 1967 – St James’ Spectacular, Chesterfield, Derbyshire with Joe Cocker’s Grease Band
26 December 1967 – Mayfair Ballroom, Smallbrook Ringway, West Midlands with The Fabulous Invaders
29 December 1967– Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
Around early January 1968, the group most likely included the following musicians:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Dave Tedstone – lead guitar
Roy Davies – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Dick Morrisey – tenor saxophone (may not have stayed long)
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Dawe – trumpet
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Colin Davy – drums
Selected gigs:
7 January 1968 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with Formula Six
8 January 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London
11 January 1968 – Concord, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire
12 January 1968 – Exeter University, Exeter, Devon
Melody Maker reports in its 13 January issue, page 13, that a continental tour is planned but does not say when.
13 January 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall
14 January 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent
15 January 1968 – Koups Klub, Laker’s Hotel, Redhill, Surrey
19 January 1968 – Gari Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Somethin Else
20 January 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Out of Sight Blues
21 January 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
22 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
23 January 1968 – Gig in Aberystwyth, Wales (The Cambrian Times has no record of any shows in the town this day)
24 January 1968 – Gig in Cardiff, Wales
25 January 1968 – Gig in Epsom, Surrey (possibly Ewell Tech College)
25 January 1968 – Gig in Birmingham, West Midlands
27 January 1968 – Gig in Southport, Lancashire (most likely Floral Hall)
28 January 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
30 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
31 January 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Lamb Bros and Co
3 February 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire
4 February 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria
5 February 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Kaspers Engine and Perfurmed Garden
5 February 1968 – Howard Platt Discotheque Show, Jazz and Blues Festival, Norfolk with The Kinks and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
6 February 1968 – Gig in Birmingham, West Midlands
7 February 1968 – Gig in Grays, Essex
9 February 1968 – Gig in Leicester
10 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Informers Plus 2
11 February 1968 – Gig in Manchester
14 February 1968 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Around the start of the second week in February, Freddie Mack advertised for three reed players suggesting he was looking to rebuild the band. Chris Dawe was among the horn players leaving and later joined Swegas.
19 February 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Joe E Young & The Tonicks
23 February 1968 – Birmingham University Students’ Union, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Elmer Gantry & The Velvet Opera
24 February 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
28 February 1968 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Around this time Dave Tedstone left to join Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and would then reunite (briefly) with Colin Davy in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band in August 1968.
Kenneth Harry also left about now and Sonny Gibbons took over on vocals.
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The original version of White Rabbit was completed with two additional musicians, rhythm guitarist/singer Brian Henderson, who’d recently been part of Nirvana’s backing band and was previously in The Soul Mates and Liza Strike & The Jet Set, and bass player Ralph Richardson, who’d worked with Henderson in The Jet Set.
Around August/September 1968, however, Rod Goodway and Linda Lewis both left, the latter to embark on a successful solo career after fronting Ferris Wheel where she played alongside future Foreigner drummer Dennis Elliott.
Mistakenly credited to 1966, it was this formation (minus Derry Wilkie and Dick Morrisey) that appeared on the album, 
