Tag Archives: The Loose Ends

Categories: England

400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon

November 14, 2022 Nick Warburton 2 Comments

This is the start of an entry on a popular music venue located in Torquay’s harbour that hosted many important visiting bands during the 1960s.

The gigs below and images are all from the Herald Express newspaper

For most of the year, gigs are only on Fridays and Saturdays with occasional gigs on other days in the week, such as Mondays and Wednesdays

2 October 1964 – The Secrets

3 October 1964 – The Master Sounds

5 October 1964 – The Dictators

9 October 1964 – The Telstars

10 October 1964 – The Mon-Keys

12 October 1964 – The Hunters

16 October 1964 – The Cyclones featuring Johnny Carne

17 October 1964 – Kevin & The Kinsmen

19 October 1964 – The Townsmen

23 October 1964 – The Fortunes

24 October 1964 – Mike Allard & The Tremors

26 October 1964 – The Buccaneers

30 October 1964 – The Tycoons

31 October 1964 – The 007

1 November 1964 – The Southbeats

2 November 1964 – The Harlequins

6 November 1964 – The Telstars

7 November 1964 – The Avengers

9 November 1964 – The Cossacks

13 November 1964 – The Vikings

14 November 1964 – The Soul Agents

16 November 1964 – The Starfires

20 November 1964 – Steve Bradley & The Sounds Unlimited

21 November 1964 – The Impact

23 November 1964 – Tony Just & The Orbits

27 November 1964 – The Bossmen

28 November 1964 – The Chevrons

30 November 1964 – Bobby & The Blue Diamonds

3 December 1964 – The Buccaneers

4 December 1964 – The Master Sounds

7 December 1964 – The Harlequins

11 December 1964 – The Buccaneers

12 December 1964 – The Initials

14 December 1964 – The Starfires

18 December 1964 – Steve Bradley & Sounds Unlimited

19 December 1964 – The Companions

21 December 1964 – The Harlequins

24 December 1964 – The Jellys

26 December 1964 – The Southbeats

28 December 1964 – The Ebonies

31 December 1964 – Dek Dooley & The Dominators and The Buccaneers

1 January 1965 – The Plymouth Sounds

2 January 1965 – Dek Dooley & The Dynamic Dominators

8 January 1965 – The Merry Knights

9 January 1965 – Four Hits & a Miss

15 January 1965 – The Better Days

16 January 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (future Slade guitarist/singer Noddy Holder was a member until late 1965)

22 January 1965 – The Starfires

23 January 1965 – The Master Sounds (replaced by The Impacts)

29 January 1965 – The Better Days

30 January 1965 – The Strollers

5 February 1965 – The Tycoons

6 February 1965 – The Blues Syndicate (Bass player Geoff Penn says that the group opened for The Yardbirds this evening).

12 February 1965 – The Telstars

13 February 1965 – Les Fleur De Lys

17 February 1965 – The Montanas

19 February 1965 – The Royals

20 February 1965 – The Southbeats

26 February 1965 – The Better Days (replaced by Gary Kane & The Tornados)

27 February 1965 – Ricky Vernon & The Pathfinders

1 March 1965 – The Montanas

5 March 1965 – Four Steps Beyond

6 March 1965 – The Tallmen (replaced by The Dynacords)

8 March 1965 – The Secrets

12 March 1965 – The ‘N Betweens (this band evolved into Slade)

13 March 1965 – The Nite People

15 March 1965 – The Better Days

19 March 1965 – The Better Days

20 March 1965 – The Soul Agents (Rod Stewart was singer at this point)

22 March 1965 – The Better Days

26 March 1965 – The Better Days

27 March 1965 – The 007s

29 March 1965 – The Buccaneers

2 April 1965 – Tony Just & The Orbits

3 April 1965 – The Freebooters (replaced by The Palmer James Group)

5 April 1965 – The Tacits

9 April 1965 – The Emeralds with Daniel Boone

10 April 1965 – The Emeralds with Daniel Boone

12 April 1965 – Clive Richie & The Couriers

17 April 1965 – Zuider Lee (could be Zuyder Zee, a popular Dutch band)

19 April 1965 – The Southbeats

23 April 1965 – The Better Days

24 April 1965 – The Hoboes

26 April 1965 – The Guild

28 April 1965 – The Emeralds

30 April 1965 – The Condors

1 May 1965 – The Big T Show

3 May 1965 – The Better Days

5 May 1965 – The Guild

7 May 1965 – The Tac Tics

8 May 1965 – The Riots

10 May 1965 – The Better Days

12 May 1965 – The Telstars

14 May 1965 – The Undertakers

15 May 1965 – The Primitives

17 May 1965 – The Tic Tacs

19 May 1965 – Peter & The Wolves

21 May 1965 – The Applejacks

22 May 1965 – The Cougars

24 May 1965 – The Hunters

28 May 1965 – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates

29 May 1965 – The Diplomats

30 May 1965 – Robin & The Four Hoods

4 June 1965 – The Loose Ends and The Buccaneers

This is roughly the start of the summer season each year (the same applies for subsequent years) when certain artists play the entire the week from Saturday through to Friday. However, it’s not always clear whether they also played the Sunday

5 June 1965 – George Washington & His Congress Men

7-11 June 1965 – George Washington & His Congress Men

12 June 1965 – The ‘N Betweens

14-18 June 1965 – The ‘N Betweens

19 June 1965 – Mike Raynor & The Condors

21-22 June 1965 – Mike Raynor & The Condors

23-25 June 1965 – The Dynamos

26 June 1965 – The Emeralds

28 June-2 July 1965 – The Emeralds

3-9 July 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

10-16 July 1965 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

17 July 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich

19-23 July 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich

23 July 1965 – The Dowlands and The Sound Tracks

25-30 July 1965 – The Dowlands and The Sound Tracks

31 July 1965 – The Marauders

1-3 August 1965 – The Marauders

4-6 August 1965 – The King Pins with Roy Grant

7 August 1965 – The Spectres (this may be the same group that evolves into Status Quo)

9-13 August 1965 – Plain & Fancy

14-20 August 1965 – The Emeralds

21-27 August 1965 – The Quiet Five

28-31 August 1965 – The Big T Show

1-3 September 1965 – The Big T Show

4-10 September 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Noddy Holder is still a member at this point)

11-12 September 1965 – Bern Elliott & His Clan

13-14 September 1965 – The Emeralds

15-16 September 1965 – The Rock-A-Fellows

18 September 1965 – The Emeralds

20-24 September 1965 – The Emeralds

25 September 1965 – The ‘N Betweens

27-30 September 1965 – The ‘N Betweens

1 October 1965 – The ‘N Betweens

2 October 1965 – Peter Fenton & The Tasty Mob

4-6 October 1965 – The Hi-Jackers

8 October 1965 – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four

9 October 1965 – The Alleycats

11 October 1965 – The Better Days

15 October 1965 – Sounds Incorporated

16 October 1965 – The In-Sect

18 October 1965 – The Cherokees

22 October 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

23 October 1965 – The Condors

25 October 1965 – The Prophets

29 October 1965 – The Checkmates

30 October 1965 – The Kingpins

1 November 1965 – The Telstars

5 November 1965 – The Applejacks

6 November 1965 – The Hellions

8 November 1965 – The Blackjacks

12 November 1965 – The Swinging Blue Jeans

13 November 1965 – The Emeralds

15 November 1965 – Gary Kane & The Tornados

19 November 1965 – Rob Storm & The Whispers

20 November 1965 – The Wheels

22 November 1965 – The Cordettes

26 November 1965 – Eden Kane with supporting group

27 November 1965 – Pete de Witt & The Magic Strangers (Dutch band)

29 November 1965 – The Spartans

3 December 1965 – The Dedicated Men’s Jug Band and support

4 December 1965 – The Montanas

6 December 1965 – The Telstars

10 December 1965 – The Mojos

11 December 1965 – The Montanas (replaced by Trendsetters Limited)

13 December 1965 – The Royals

17 December 1965 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs with support

18 December 1965 – Finders Keepers (replaced by The Candles)

24 December 1965 – The Deltas

27 December 1965 – The Riots

31 December 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds

1 January 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span

7 January 1966 – The Power House Six

8 January 1966 – Zuyder Zee (a popular Dutch band)

14 January 1966 – The Emeralds

15 January 1966 – The Symbols

21 January 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

22 January 1966 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

28 January 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Noddy Holder had recently left)

29 January 1966 – The Cougars

4 February 1966 – The Nite People

5 February 1966 – The Manchester Playboys

11 February 1966 – The Quiet Five

12 February 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited

18 February 1966 – The Meddyevils

19 February 1966 – The Condors

23 February 1966 – The Maurice Price Seven

25 February 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

26 February 1966 – The Vibros

2 March 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited

4 March 1966 – The Symbols

5 March 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span

9 March 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited

11 March 1966 – The Hot Springs (formerly The Riots)

12 March 1966 – The Majority

16 March 1966 – Carnaby 1 Plus 4

18 March 1966 – The Tennessee Teams

19 March 1966 – Ray Anton & The Profoma

23 March 1966 – The Couriers

25 March 1966 – Cops ‘N’ Robbers

26 March 1966 – The Vogue

1 April 1966 – The Alan Bown Set

2 April 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

9 April 1966 – The Bystanders

11 April 1966 – The Emeralds

15 April 1966 – Kris Ryan & The Questions

16 April 1966 – The Big Sound with Karol Keyes

22 April 1966 – The Statesmen

23 April 1966 – The Kingpins

29 April 1966 – The Couriers

30 April 1966 – The ‘N Betweens

6 May 1966 – The First Lites

7 May 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

13 May 1966 – Carnaby 1 Plus 4

14 May 1966 – The Deltas

20 May 1966 – Peter Fenton with Him & The Others

21 May 1966 – George Bean & The Runners

27 May 1966 – The Silhouttes

28 May 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex

30 May 1966 – The Gaylords (this band became Marmalade)

3 June 1966 – The Anzaks

4 June 1966 – The ‘N Betweens (Noddy Holder may have joined by now)

6-10 June 1966 – The ‘N Betweens

11 June 1966 – The Vogue

13-17 June 1966 – The Vogue

18-24 June 1966 – The Bystanders

25-30 June 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

1 July 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

2 July 1966 – John Bull Breed (Bass player John Lodge joined The Moody Blues in October 1966)

4-8 July 1966 – John Bull Breed

9 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six

11-15 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six

16 July 1966 – The Nite People

18-22 July 1966 – The Nite People

23 July 1966 – Ray Grant & The Kingpins

25-29 July 1966 – Ray Grant & The Kingpins

30 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six

1-5 August 1966 – The Powerhouse Six

6 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

8-12 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

13 August 1966 – The Noblemen (Guitarist Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull in late 1968)

15-19 August 1966 – The Noblemen

20 August 1966 – Ray Anton & The Proform

21-22 August 1966 – The Symbols

23-24 August 1966 – The Quiet Five

25-26 August 1966 – Trendsetters Limited

27 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

29 August-2 September 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

3 September 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

4 September 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks

5-9 September 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

10 September 1966 – Cops ‘n’ Robbers

12-16 September 1966 – Cops ‘n’ Robbers

17 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens (this Wolverhampton band later became Slade)

19-23 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens

24 September 1966 – The Beau Oddlot

26-27 September 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span

28 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens

29-30 September 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span

1 October 1966 – Giorgio & Mario’s Men

7 October 1966 – Listen (possibly Robert Plant’s band)

8 October 1966 – Blaises

14 October 1966 – The Voids

15 October 1966 – The Combine

21 October 1966 – The Anzaks

22 October 1966 – Mr Hip Soul Band

28 October 1966 – The Onyx Set

29 October 1966 – The Palmer James Group

4 November 1966 – The Rage

5 November 1966 – The Kingpins with Ray Grant

12 November 1966 – The Lonely Ones

19 November 1966 – The Raging Storms

26 November 1966 – The Talismen

2 December 1966 – The Reason Why

3 December 1966 – The Palmer James Group

10 December 1966 – Grand Union

16 December 1966 – Guest Group

17 December 1966 – The ‘N Betweens

23 December 1966 – The Onyx Set

24 December 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span

30 December 1966 – Lord Caesar Sutch & The Roman Empire

31 December 1966 – Mr Hip Soul Band

7 January 1967 – Trendsetters Limited

14 January 1967 – The Albert Square

20 January 1967 – The Undertakers

21 January 1967 – The Bystanders

27 January 1967 – The Onyx Set

28 January 1967 – The Upliners

4 February 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

10 February 1967 – The Jaguars

11 February 1967 – The Ziggy Turner Combo

18 February 1967 – The Lonely Ones

25 February 1967 – The Raging Storms

4 March 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band

11 March 1967 – The Palmer James Group

17 March 1967 – The Last-Tik Band

18 March 1967 – The Shannons

25 March 1967 – Paul Young’s Toggery

27 March 1967 – The Anzaks

31 March 1967 – Johnston McPhilby Five

1 April 1967 – The Measles

7 April 1967 – The Last-Tik Band

8 April 1967 – Heart & Souls

14 April 1967 –The Jaguars

15 April 1967 – The Vogues

21 April 1967 – The Jigsaw

22 April 1967 – The Delroy Good Good Band

28 April 1967 – The Last-Tik Band

29 April 1967 – The Sunspots

5 May 1967 – The Hoboes

6 May 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

12 May 1967 – The Onyx Set

13 May 1967 – The Outer Limits

19 May 1967 – The Last-Tik Band

20 May 1967 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

26 May 1967 – The Jaguars

27 May 1967 – The Lemon Line

2 June 1967 – The Hoboes

3 June 1967 – The Worrying Kynde

9 June 1967 – The Children

10 June 1967 – The Ray King Soul Band

16 June 1967 – The Parchment People

17 June 1967 – The Five Proud Walkers

23 June 1967 – Omega Plus

24 June 1967 – Dual Purpose

30 June 1967 – Pentworth’s People

1-7 July 1967 – The Mike Stuart Span

8 July 1967 – The Raging Storms

10-12 July 1967 – The Raging Storms

15-21 July 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

22-28 July 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band

29 July-4 August 1967 – Wellington Kitch Band

5-11 August 1967 – The Heart and Souls

12-18 August 1967 – The Delroy Good Good Band

19-21 August 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

22 August 1967 – The Tremeloes and The ‘N Betweens

23-25 August 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

26 August-1 September 1967 – The Ziggy Turner Combo

2-8 September 1967 – The Real McCoy

9 September 1967 – The Colour Supplement

14 September 1967 – Wynder K Frog

15 September 1967 – The Jaguars

16 September 1967 – The Strange Fruit

23 September 1967 – The Shame (Greg Lake was the band’s bass player)

30 September 1967 – The Workshop

7 October 1967 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs

13 October 1967 – Scots of St James (rebooked for 17 November)

14 October 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

21 October 1967 – The Dreaded Spectres

28 October 1967 – The Omega Plus

3 November 1967 – The Last-Tik Band

4 November 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band

11 November 1967 – The Vogues

17 November 1967 – The Scots of St James

18 November 1967 – The Shiralee

24 November 1967 – The Cat Soul Packet

25 November 1967 – The Shame

1 December 1967 – The Shell Shock Show

2 December 1967 – The ‘N Betweens

8 December 1967 – The Foundations

9 December 1967 – Robert Plant & The Band of Joy

15 December 1967 – The Lamb Bros & Co

16 December 1967 – Dual Purpose

22 December 1967 – Sounds Incorporated

23-24 December 1967 – The Mike Stuart Span

26 December 1967 – Pinkerton’s Colours

29 December 1967 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

30-31 December 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band

5 January 1968 – The Calgary Stampede

6 January 1968 – The Maze (singer Rod Evans and drummer Ian Paice co-founded Deep Purple)

12 January 1968 – The Clockwork Orange

13 January 1968 – The Go Show

19 January 1968 – The Tremeloes

20 January 1968 – John Drevar’s Experience

26 January 1968 – The Gods

27 January 1968 – The Purple Dream

2 February 1968 – Purple Art

3 February 1968 – Heart & Souls

9 February 1968 – The Vigilantes

10 February 1968 – Blossom

16 February 1968 – The Albie

17 February 1968 – The ‘N Betweens (the band became Slade)

23 February 1968 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

24 February 1968 – Cat Soul Show

1 March 1968 – The New York Public Library

2 March 1968 – The Firestones

8 March 1968 – The Bunch

9 March 1968 – The Maze

15 March 1968 – Freddie Mack Show

16 March 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co

22 March 1968 – Status Quo

23 March 1968 – The Shell Shock Show

29 March 1968 – The Big T Sound

30 March 1968 – The Vogues

5 April 1968 – The Onyx

6 April 1968 – Wishful Thinking (formerly The Emeralds)

13 April 1968 – The Ebonites (no Friday artist)

15 April 1968 – Locomotive

19 April 1968 – New World

20 April 1968 – John Drevar’s Experience

26 April 1968 – The Shy Limbs (Greg Lake on bass)

27 April 1968 – Delroy Williams & The Sugar Band

3 May 1968 – My Dear Watson

4 May 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span

10 May 1968 – The Late

11 May 1968 – Fanny Flickers Rock ‘N’ Roll Band

17 May 1968 – The Firm

18 May 1968 – The Extreme Sound

20 May 1968 – The Mike Westbrook Band

25 May 1968 – Gerry Temple & The Storm (no Friday artist)

31 May 1968 – The Penny Peep Show (Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull)

1 June 1968 – The Epics

3 June 1968 – The Ebonites

8 June 1968 – George Bean & The Runners (no Friday artist) (says they are Lulu’s backing band)

10 June 1968 – Breakthru

14 June 1968 – The Merseys

15 June 1968 – Floribunda Rose (John Kongos was singer)

17 June 1968 – Locomotive

21 June 1968 – Mud

22 June 1968 – Traction

24 June 1968 – Youngblood

25 June 1968 – Marmalade

28 June 1968 – Pepper

29 June 1968 – Cat Road Show starring US Flattop

There may be missing gigs during July as it wasn’t clear if artists played for the entire week

1 July 1968 – The Ebonites

3 July 1968 – The Ebonites

5 July 1968 – The Ebonites

6 July 1968 – The Jasper Stubbs Gloryland Band

8-10 July 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span

12 July 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span

13 July 1968 – Finders Keepers

15 July 1968 – Finders Keepers

17 July 1968 – Finders Keepers

19 July 1968 – Finders Keepers

20 July 1968 – The Shiralee

22-24 July 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co

26 July 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co

27 July 1968 – Spectrum

29 July 1968 – Spectrum

30 July 1968 – Reperata & The Delrons, Clouds and Spectrum

31 July 1968 – Spectrum

3 August 1968 – The Californians

5-9 August 1968 – The Californians

10 August 1968 – The Light Fantastic (formerly The Vogues)

12-16 August 1968 – The Light Fantastic

17 August 1968 – Wishful Thinking

19 August 1968 – The Onyx

20-23 August 1968 – Wishful Thinking

24 August 1968 – Bubblegum

26-27 August 1968 – Bubblegum

30 August 1968 – Bubblegum

31 August 1968 – The Gods

2 September 1968 – The Gods (they may play all week but it is not clear)

6 September 1968 – The Gods

From this point onwards, it looks like gigs only took place on Saturdays

7 September 1968 – Traction

14 September 1968 – The ‘N Betweens

21 September 1968 – Jason Cord and First Chapter

28 September 1968 – Mike Raynor & The Condors

5 October 1968 – The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet

12 October 1968 – Scrugg (formerly Floribunda Rose)

19 October 1968 – Scrugg

26 October 1968 – Finders Keepers

2 November 1968 – Mud

9 November 1968 – Hopscotch

15 November 1968 – Indiana Highway (Friday)

16 November 1968 – The Swamp with Jon & James

23 November 1968 – Breakthru

30 November 1968 – Ebony Blush

7 December 1968 – Cardboard Replica

14 December 1968 – Palmyra Stock

19 December 1968 – Bandwagon and The Grand Union

21 December 1968 – Bubblegum

24 December 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span

26 December 1968 – Mud

28 December 1968 – The Epics

31 December 1968 – The Ebonites

Categories: Basel, Switzerland

Berry Window & The Movements

June 27, 2022 Nick Warburton Leave a comment

Switzerland-based soul sensation Berry Window & The Movements recorded three soul-infused LPs during 1967-1968 and a clutch of superb 45s before finally breaking up in spring 1969. Despite also gaining a degree of popularity in southern Germany and northern Italy, the band were complete unknowns in Britain.

Formed by singer Barry Window aka Berry Window (b. 25 November 1946, Basel, Switzerland), the original formation comprised bass player Peter Rietmann (b. 14 June 1945, Switzerland; d. 2009); sax player Ferdinand Keller; drummer Dietmar Carl; keyboard player Fritz Trippel (b. 10 December 1937, Chur, Switzerland, d. 2010); and – last to join – lead guitarist Ronald William Bryer (b. 23 April 1947, London, England; d. 25 June 1973).

Window (whose real name is Urs Fenster; Fenster being German for window) started his career as the drummer for R&B/soul band The Sam Wee Five, a popular Basel outfit that never recorded, in 1964.

Window’s grandfather was born in Brazil while his father Kurt had arrived in Basel via Düsseldorf with the American Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Like his father, Berry mastered the drums but at heart had aspirations to be a singer. He certainly had the voice and stage presence to suggest he could be a dynamic front man and, by June 1967, was ready to step out from behind the drum kit and make his mark.

One of the first musicians he lined up for The Movements was Peter Rietmann, who had first come to prominence with The Dynamites in spring of 1964.

The bass player worked with this band until April 1966, leaving to join The Blue Sounds for two months. This fascinating outfit, featured two English musicians – singer/harp player Robert Muir and guitarist Mike Whitlock, who’d come to Basel with Merseyside band The Marksmen.

Rietmann, however, didn’t hang around long and soon joined top Austrian outfit, The Slaves, working with them until around March/April 1967 before he briefly gigged with The Countdowns. By early summer, he was ready to join Window in putting The Movements together.

While Dietmar Carl (aka Karl) was formerly a member of Basel group The Kettles, the much older Fritz Trippel was a seasoned musician steeped in jazz and well connected in music circles, notably in Stuttgart (more of which shortly).

According to the singer, Berry Window & The Movements secured an important engagement at Seiler’s Atlantis, a former coffeehouse that had specialised in jazz when it opened in the late 1940s, within a month of forming. By the mid-1960s, Seiler’s Atlantis had remodeled itself as a rock venue and had hosted a number of visiting British bands to the city.

At the time The Movements were still without a guitar player but the club booking necessitated a photo session and so a “stand-in” was brought in to pose with the other musicians sitting in a boat in the middle of the River Rhine.

Left to right: Fritz Trippel, Peter Rietmann, Berry Window, Dietmar Carl, stand in guitarist, Ferdinand Keller. Photo: Barry Window

Window, however, already knew who he wanted as the guitarist – British musician Ron Bryer who until recently had been working with expatriates The Big Wheel, a popular R&B outfit that had played at the Hotel Hirschen in Zurich and the Tanzrad in Basel among others.

Bryer had started his career with Bexley, Kent group, The Loose Ends but had departed in mid-1965 before they signed with Decca Records and cut two great Mod 45s, including a cover of George Harrison’s “Taxman”.

Briefly adopting the stage name Ron Spence, the guitarist next worked with The Revellos for six months or so before joining The Carl Douglas Set with future “Kung Fu Fighter” Carl Douglas, and recording some unreleased tracks that were later issued by the Acid Jazz label.

In June 1966, however, he replaced Del Grace (ironically on his way to replace him in Carl Douglas’ band) in The Big Wheel. Keyboard player Andy Clark, later of Clark-Hutchinson and Upp fame, was instrumental in bringing Bryer into the group.

After releasing a lone 45 in Switzerland in February 1967– Clark’s “Don’t Give Up That Easy” c/w “You’re Only Hurting Yourself” on the Eurex label, Bryer was ready for a fresh challenge.

Debuting at Seiler’s Atlantis, Berry Window & The Movements proved so popular with local fans that the club’s owner extended their residency (a photo shows them performing on stage that August). By then, Trippel had used his contacts to secure a recording deal with the Bertelsmann Group Intercord label, based near Stuttgart in West Germany.

Seiler’s Atlantis, August 1967. Photo: Barry Window

Rushed into the studios, the band kicked off with two German-language recordings, penned by Trippel: “Abschiedslied” and “Ich Bin Allein”, which were coupled for the band’s debut 45 on the German label.

Soon afterwards, the group recorded its debut English-language single for Intercord, a cover of Bobby Robinson and Irral Berger’s “Warm and Tender Love” backed by Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd and Alverts Isbell’s “I’ve Got Everything I Need”, issued in late 1967.

The same line-up was responsible for the follow-up release: an impressive reading of Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter’s “Hold On, I’m Coming” backed with Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper’s “Knock On Wood”. Both English-language singles proved popular locally.

During this period the musicians were still heavily reliant on cover material and recorded their debut LP Soul & Love at Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg, north of Stuttgart over two days.

Drawing largely on the material they played live, this included impressive takes of Otis Redding and Arthur Conley’s “Sweet Soul Music”; Mack Rice’s “Mustang Sally”; James Brown’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”; and Smokey Robinson and Ronald White’s “My Girl”.

Wolfgang Paap and Ron Bryer, 1968. Photo: Barry Window

On 25 November 1967 (Berry’s 21^st birthday), the band made a rare TV appearance, guesting on the “Hits A Go-Go” programme, aired in West Germany and Switzerland before resuming their busy live schedule, taking in the Chemilhütte in Basel and the Hazyland in Zurich among others.

Soon afterwards, Fritz Trippel departed and Belgian multi-instrumentalist, composer and keyboard extraordinaire Joel Vandroogenbroeck (b. 24 August 1938, Brussels, Belgium; d. 23 December 2019) took over, raising the standard of musicianship in the process.

Having made his first appearance on classical piano when he was only six years old, Vandroogenbroeck had toured Europe with The Quincy Jones Orchestra in the late 1950s but had a long and distinguished career. When he met Barry Window & The Movements he was playing with American singer Dee Dee McNeil (more of which shortly).

Around the same time Peter Rietmann followed Trippel out of the door and briefly reunited with the Chur-born keyboardist in the popular Swiss band Les Sauterelles.

Bass player Peter Giske (b. 1947, Basel, Switzerland) took over from Rietmann, who later progressed to work with Swiss band Crusade in 1969. Giske had Polish ancestry, adding to the diverse mix of nationalities that comprised The Movements.

During early 1968, the group returned to the studio with new drummer Hans-Peter Schweizer to record material for a Swiss-only EP entitled I Like Soul, which featured reworked (and superior) versions of “Knock On Wood”; “Hold On, I’m Coming”; and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”. By this point Ferdinand Keller had departed.

Thanks to Joel Vandroogenbroeck’s connections with Dee Dee McNeil, the musicians next got the opportunity to record an LP with the American singer for the German MPS Records label in spring 1968. Entitled Soul Hour, the record was credited to Dee Dee, Barry & The Movements.

With new drummer Wolfgang Paap (b. 1944, Danzig, Germany) behind the kit, the sessions for the LP took place in Basel on 16 and 17 April 1968 and included powerful covers of Allen Touissaint’s “Get Out of My Life Woman”, Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper’s “In the Midnight Hour”, plus yet another re-recording of “Hold On, I’m Coming”.

Soul Hour also came with some interesting sleeve notes about the individual musicians’ backgrounds. In addition to new member Wolfgang Paap on drums, the album also featured French sax player Barney Wilen (b. 1937, Nice, France), who’d previously worked with Miles Davis among many others.

Around this time Berry Window & The Movements appeared on West German TV show “We Like Soul” playing “Hold On, I’m Coming”. On several tracks Dee Dee McNeil joined Window for a duet and the recording also shows a second sax player.

Peter Giske, Wolfgang Paap, Dee Dee McNeil, Berry Window, Joel Vandroogenbroeck and Ron Bryer, 1968. Photo: Barry Window

Not long after, Berry Window & The Movements started work on their second studio LP Soul In Action, which remains arguably one of the best continental LPs recorded during the 1960s. Gone was the reliance on cover material, replaced by superb band originals, mainly co-penned by Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer, such as “I Gave You My Heart”, “Go Away” and the horn- driven soul-rocker “Give Me the Time”.

Berry Window had a hand in a few songs too, collaborating with Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer on “Rock Locomotion”, which was paired with Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer’s “I Wanna Get Moving out of Here” for a single, and the sublime, jazzy number “Stay as You Are”.

Vandroogenbroeck also came up with two gems on his own: the Hammond drenched soul outing, “Funky for Now” and the majestic “Solitude Street”, which saw the Belgian step away from the keys and demonstrate his mastery of the sitar.

In fact, his use of the Indian stringed instrument on several tracks created a unique psych-soul blend to the LP. The front cover shows him sitting on the floor with sitar in hand and Window standing over him.

Two non-LP tracks further demonstrate Vandroogenbroeck’s skills on the instrument, the hypnotic “I’ll Wait for You” and the driving, infectious “Hear Me, Help Me” again penned by Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer. Coupled as a single in the latter half of 1968, they are, as far as this writer is concerned, the band’s creative peak.

Like the group’s previous Intercord single release which paired two more non-LP Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer collaborations – “Remember The Rain” and “It Happened Once Before”, the recordings failed to achieve the commercial success the band deserved.

Undeterred by the public’s reaction to their excellent LP and cache of superb singles, Berry Window & The Movements continued to gig across southern Germany, Switzerland and also northern Italy. The highlight of this period was perhaps a 40-minute TV show that West German station ARD recorded in Baden-Baden in September 1968.

As 1968 turned to 1969, Wolfgang Paap bowed out (subsequently to reunite with Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer) and new drummer Marc Hellman stepped behind the kit. Barney Wilen also departed to record the brilliant Dear Prof. Leary LP.

Berry Window, Joel Vandroogenbroeck, Ron Bryer, Marc Hellman, unknown player, unknown player and Peter Giske, late 1968. Photo: Barry Window

At this point, Window expanded the horn section bringing in two Caribbean musicians – Roy Edwards (trumpet) and Rudy Jones (sax) for some fresh recordings at SAAR Studios in Milan, Italy.

According to Window, a friend of his was on holiday in Spain at the time and had seen the two horn players at a club in Playa de Aro called the Maddox backing singer Eddie Lee Mattison and had alerted Window, who was on the look-out for a brass section.

Four tracks were recorded in early 1969 – English and Italian versions of Doug Sahm’s “Mendocino” and Alan Bergman, Marilyn Keith and Norman Luboff’s “Yellow Bird”, which were released in quick succession on the Italian Joker Dischi label.

Clockwise from top left: Pete Giske, Rudy Jones, Ron Bryer, Berry Window, Roy Edwards, Joel Vandroogenbroeck and Marc Hellman. Photo: Barry Window

By then, The Movements were on their last legs. With the end in sight, Bryer and Vandroogenbroeck pieced together a new, far more experimental band, The Third Eclipse, which soon became better known as Brainticket. The pair was reunited with Wolfgang Paap who joined the group’s most famous line-up and appears alongside the duo on the classic Cottonwoodhill LP.

The Belgian would continue to lead Brainticket for decades but Bryer soon returned to England where he subsequently reunited with former Loose Ends singer Alan Marshall in his band One. Sadly he died prematurely of an accidental drug overdose on 25 June 1973.

With a restructured band featuring Roy Edwards and Rudy Jones, Berry Window changed his name to Barry and took the revamped line-up to London where, as The London Cats, they recorded two tracks for Baf Records – David Porter and Isaac Hayes “I Thank You” and Roger Penzabene, Norman Whitefield and Barrett Strong’s “End of Our Road”, which were coupled for a British-only single.

The London Cats, 1969. Photo: Barry Window

That might have been the end of Berry Window & The Movements but that same year, RCA Records combined a recent recording that the singer had cut with Italian studio musicians, a cover of Herbert Pagani and Adriano De Grandis’ “Preistoria, Preistoria” with a second (and arguably superior) version of the classic “I’ll Wait For You”, cut in 1968 when Vandroogenbroeck and Bryer were still members.

With Edwards and Jones remaining in the UK to join JJ Jackson’s band, Window returned to Switzerland and embarked on an illustrious solo career which he continues to this day.

Fortunately, anyone who wants to check out the band’s excellent legacy can hear the group’s entire work (minus Soul Hour) on the Early Years double CD.

Thanks to Rolf ‘Ray’ Rieben of Feathered Apple Records and Barry Window for their help

Categories: England, London

The Marmalade gigs 1966-1970

June 22, 2019 Nick Warburton 18 Comments

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.

Marmalade in late 1966, shortly after changing name from The Gaylords. Photo may be subject to copyright

THE MARMALADE

Dean Ford – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica

William Junior Campbell – lead guitar, keyboards, vocals

Patrick Fairley – rhythm guitar, six-string bass, vocals

Graham Knight – bass, vocals

Raymond Duffy – drums

The original Marmalade. Photo may be subject to copyright

The group started life as Glasgow group, The Gaylords who went through numerous personnel changes over the years.

According to Wellingborough News, The Gaylords became The Marmalade on 9 September 1966. However, booking agents continued to book them under their former name for some time, including a show at the Dungeon Club in Nottingham on 16 October and the Witch Doctor in St Leonards, East Sussex on 5 November (see below).

25 September 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Versions (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

30 October 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Something Else (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

5 November 1966 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Hastings & St Leonards Observer) Billed as The Gaylords

28 November 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

4 December 1966 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Survivors (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

15 December 1966 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland with Davey Sands & The Essex, The Tribe and The Nemkons (Grantham Journal)

16 December 1966 – Victoria Hall, Oakham, Lincolnshire with The Unit 2 (Grantham Journal) Says The Gaylords now The Marmalade

In mid-December, Londoner Alan Whitehead took over the drum stool. Whitehead had previously played with Crispian St Peters and then The Loose Ends. In late September 1966, he left The Loose Ends to join Cops ‘n’ Robbers then spent a month working with The Epitaph Soul Band before recording briefly (and appearing in publicity shots) with The Attack.

Marmalade with Alan Whitehead (bottom right). Photo may be subject to copyright

18 December 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

26 December 1966 – Bath Regency Ballroom, Bath with The Undertakers (Poster) Billed as Marmalades

1967

18 January 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail) It says formerly The Gaylords in the advert

19 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Pink Floyd (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

22 January 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Sounds Incorporated (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

29 January 1967 – Dereham Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with St Willie’s Cool School (North Norfolk News)

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

8 February 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News)

22 February 1967 – Mr Magoo’s, Edinburgh, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

23 February 1967 – RNAS Arbroath, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

24 February 1967 – La Bamba Club, Falkirk, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

25 February 1967 – The Institute, Newtongate, Scotland with The Poets (South Midlothian Advertiser)

1 March 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)

2 March 1967 – W1 Hall, Ely, Cambridgeshire (Fabulous 208)

3 March 1967 – Continental Club, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Fabulous 208)

4 March 1967 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Motion (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

5 March 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

6 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Lee Dorsey and Scots of St James (Evening Sentinel)

11 March 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Fabulous 208)

12 March 1967 – Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Fabulous 208)

13 March 1967 – Stafford Yeoman, Stafford, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

16 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Nite Power (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

17 March 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (Fabulous 208)

17 March 1967 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, London (Fabulous 208)

18 March 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (Fabulous 208)

23 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Fancy Bred (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 March 1967 – Victoria Hall, Oakham, Rutland (Fabulous 208)

25 March 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with Bob Miller & The Millermen (East Kent Times & Mail)

26 March 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)

26 March 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Cheetas (Poster)

27 March 1967 – Town Hall, Oxford (Fabulous 208)

30 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Tribe (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

31 March 1967 – County High School, Saffron Walden, Essex with The New Breed (Cambridge News)

31 March 1967 – Community Hall, Diss, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

1 April 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Stacey’s Circle, The Seychelles and The Amazons (Cambridge News)

3 April 1967 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News)

3 April 1967 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News)

5 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Guys (Berkhamsted Gazette, Tring & District News)

6 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Fancy Bred (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

13 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Nite People (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

15-16 April 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, London (Fabulous 208)

18 April 1967 – Speakeasy, London (Fabulous 208)

20 April 1967 – Village Hall, Ely, Cambridgeshire (Fabulous 208)

22 April 1967 – RAF Wittering, Wittering, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

23 April 1967 – Cadilac Club, Brighton, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

29 April 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Jeff Beck Group and Feel For Soul (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

29 April 1967 – Drokiweeny, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

1 May 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

4 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Tribe (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

11 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Fancy Bred (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

12 May 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, London (South East London Mercury)

13 May 1967 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

14 May 1967 – Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Crawdadds (Fabulous 208/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

18 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Versions (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

27 May 1967 – The Institute, Newtongate, Scotland with The Hawks (South Midlothian Advertiser)

28 May 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Ray King Soul Band (Cumberland News)

1 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Epics (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4 June 1967 – Drokiweeny, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

4 June 1967 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

10 June 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (Melody Maker)

14 June 1967 – Speakeasy, London (Disc & Music Echo) This needs confirming/Lennon & McCartney attended

15 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Tribe (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

16 June 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

23 June 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Klick (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

25 June 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Survivors (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

29 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Studio Six (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

1 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Band, The Friction, The Troubles in Mind, Savoy Jazz Band (Cambridge News)

6 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Studio Six (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 July 1967 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Epics (East Kent Times & Mail)

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

10 July 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Valets and Pride and Passion (Express & Star)

12 July 1967 – Speakeasy, London (Disc & Music Echo)

Members of The Beatles, The Monkees, The Hollies, The Who, Cream and Walker Brothers were among the guests attending the Speakeasy show above according to Disc & Music Echo

13 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Nite People (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

15 July 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Guy Darrell (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

20 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Iveys (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

20 July 1967 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo) Advert says they played all week

24 July 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)

27 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

28 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with The Plastic Dream Boat (Cambridge News)

3 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Studio Six (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4 August 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

8 August 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Reg James Explosion (Evening Sentinel)

10 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Blossom (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

11-13 August 1967 – Windsor Jazz Festival, Windsor, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

13 August 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Exit and Trax (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

16 August 1967 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, London (Fabulous 208)

17 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

19 August 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London with supporting group (South East London Mercury)

19 August 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, London (Fabulous 208)

20 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

24 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Iveys (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

25 August 1967 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Fabulous 208)

26 August 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Rubber Band (North Norfolk News)

27 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

29 August 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, London (Fabulous 208)

31 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

Marmalade, Record Mirror, 2 September 1967. Photo may be subject to copyright

2 September 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Syn (East Kent Times & Mail)

14 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

21 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Ray King Soul Band (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

23 September 1967 – Kestrells Club, Crewe, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)

23 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston Lincolnshire with Garnet Mimms (backed by The Senate), The Yum Yum Band and Ray Bones (Spalding Guardian)

25 September 1967 – Staffordshire Yeoman, Stafford (Stafford Newsletter)

26 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

27 September 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, London (Fabulous 208)

28 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

29 September 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Fabulous 208)

29 September 1967 – Philippa Fawcett College, Streatham, London (Fabulous 208)

30 September 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker)

4 October 1967 – Sussex University, Brighton, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

7 October 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (Melody Maker)

8 October 1967 – Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Plague (Fabulous 208/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

9 October 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208) Needs confirmation

11 October 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

12 October 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

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

18 October 1967 – Notternell Youth Centre, Harlow, Essex (Fabulous 208)

19 October 1967 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Tremeloes, The Moody Blues, Sounds A Round, Lois Lane and Alexander Bell & The Flies (Southend Standard)

20 October 1967 – G-Ranch Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Gazette)

21 October 1967 – Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

21 October 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Kleek (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

22 October 1967 – Red Lion Hotel, Leytonstone, London (Fabulous 208)

24 October 1967 – Granada, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London with The Who, Traffic, The Herd, The Dream, Ray Cameron and The Tremeloes (Woking Herald)

26 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

Marmalade. Photo may be subject to copyright.

2 November 1967 – WI Hall, Ely, Cambridgeshire with The Craw Dads (Cambridge News/Fabulous 208)

3 November 1967 – Granada Cinema, Kingston upon Thames, London with The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

4 November 1967 – Granada Cinema, Walthamstow, London with The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

5 November 1967 – Theatre Royal, Nottingham with The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

6 November 1967 – Town Hall, Birmingham with The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

7 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Shame (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

9 November 1967 – Maidstone Granada, Maidstone, Kent with The Who, Traffic, The Herd, The Dream, Ray Cameron and The Tremeloes (Kentish Express)

12 November 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with Legay (Melody Maker)

13 November 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Magic Roundabout (Express & Star)

16 November 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

17 November 1967 – New Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

18 November 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Soul Concern (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

18 November 1967 – Town Hall, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

20 November 1967 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

23 November 1967 – TA Centre, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208

24 November 1967 – College of Technology, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

25 November 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with The Vivas (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

25 November 1967 – Night Owl, Leicester (Fabulous 208)

26 November 1967 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Gazette)

30 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Iveys (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

1 December 1967 – Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with Pentworth’s People (Gloucester Citizen)

2 December 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

3 December 1967 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent (Fabulous 208)

3 December 1967 – Red Lion, Leytonstone, London (Fabulous 208)

4 December 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

5 December 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire with The Alan Bown and The Night People (Portsmouth News)

6 December 1967 – Horrorball, Albert Hall, London with Pink Floyd, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Blue Rivers & The Maroons (Melody Maker)

14 December 1967 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland with The Love Affair, The Symbols and The Kontax (Grantham Journal)

19 December 1967 – College of Art, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Fabulous 208)

21 December 1967 – Teenscene Club, Ely, Cambridgeshire (Melody Maker)

22 December 1967 – Locarno, Basildon, Essex with The Moody Blues and Ivan St Clair & The System Soul Band (Southend Standard)

23 December 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom Margate, Kent with The Joyce Bond Band (East Kent Times & Mail)

25 December 1967 – Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Hydro-Bronx B Band (Melody Maker/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

26 December 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

30 December 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

31 December 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Black Cat Bones and The Nite People (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

1968

Photo: Hillingdon Mirror. Photo may be subject to copyright

4 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

5 January 1968 – G-Ranch, Maidstone, Kent (Melody Maker)

6-9 January 1968 – Dates in Ireland (Melody Maker)

10 January 1968 – Falcon Hotel, Eltham, London (Melody Maker)

11 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Breakthru (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

13 January 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (Melody Maker)

14 January 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Wages of Sin and Tramline (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

17 January 1968 – RAF Wittering, Wittering, West Sussex (Melody Maker)

19 January 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Evening Sentinel)

18-23 January 1968 – Dates in the Netherlands (Melody Maker) This seems very unlikely

29 January 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

1 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Jon (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

11 February 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Cresters (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

12 February 1968 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Magic Roundabout (Express & Star)

14 February 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Wages of Sin and Tram-Line (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

17 February 1968 – Witchdoctor, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)

20 February 1968 – Alm Park Hotel, Hornchurch, London (Fabulous 208)

26 February 1968 – Kings Hall, Berkhamsted, Herts (Berkhamsted Gazette)

28 February 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

29 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Studio Six (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

2 March 1968 – Uttoxeter Town Hall, Uttoxeter with The Spectre (Uttoxeter Advertiser and Ashbourne Times)

3 March 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

5 March 1968 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Serendipity (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

21 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Open Mind (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

26 March 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)

11 April 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

17 April 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

18 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Granny’s Intentions (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

22 April 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire (Wrexham Leader)

28 April 1968 – Cat Balou Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Melody Maker)

4 May 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Blossom (East Kent Times & Mail)

8 May 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London (Melody Maker)

10 May 1968 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (website: http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/)

16 May 1968 – The Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminister, Somerset with The Circles (Somerset County Gazette/Western Gazette)

19 May 1968 – Starlite Balllroom, Greenford, London with Rainbow Frolly (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 May 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Granny’s Intentions (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

1 June 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Duane Eddy (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

2 June 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Adges Convention (Crewe Chronicle)

4 June 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

6 June 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with Evacuations (Western Gazette)

13 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Gun (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

21 June 1968 – Midsummer Nights Dream, Burton Constable, near Hull with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, The Move, Family, Spooky Tooth, Tramline, Savoy Brown Blues Band, Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Baron Richtofen’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Circus, CJ Morris and The Reaction (Hull Daily Mail)

25 June 1968 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Torquay Times)

27 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Breakthru (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

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

6 July 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Hofmans Biscuit (Cambridgeshire Times)

10 July 1968 – Top Rank, Southampton, Hampshire Fabulous 208)

12 July 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

13 July 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Hofmans Biscuit (Cambridgeshire Times)

14 July 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Southgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Wakefield Express)

19 July 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Herts with Horatio Soul Band (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

20 July 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Lee Harmer’s Popcorn (East Kent Times & Mail)

There is a good story and pic of the band in the Wakefield Express in its 20 July 1968 issue, page 20 (see below)

22 July 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

27 July 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Steve Chapples research)

2 August 1968 – Metropole, Exhibition Hall, Brighton, West Sussex with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, The Mike Stuart Span, The Tremeloes, The Nice and Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

3 August 1968 – Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock, Devon (Fabulous 208) Seems unlikely considering gig below

3 August 1968 – Boston Playing Fields, Boston, Lincolnshire with Angel Pavement and The Variation (Grantham Journal)

5 August 1968 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Rainbow Ffolley and Circle Line (Surrey Advertiser)

11 August 1968 – Byron, Greenford, London (Thames Valley Times)

16 August 1968 – RAF Brize Norton, Hungerford, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

17 August 1968 – Seagull Hotel, Ryde, Isle of Wight (Fabulous 208)

19 August 1968 – Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with Locomotive (Warwick Advertiser)

22 August 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Portsmouth Evening News)

23 August 1968 – Royal Ballroom, Tottenham, London (Fabulous 208)

24 August 1968 – Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire (Fabulous 208)

27 August 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Gun (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

2 September 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Pesky Gee and The Chelfont Line (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)

12 September 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with The Stormy (Western Gazette)

13 September 1968 – Avery Hill College, Eltham, southeast London with The Kinsmen and Funky Fever (South East London Mercury)

13 September 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

14 September 1968 – Marine Ballroom, Lyme Regis, Dorset with support (Bridport News/Lyme Regis News)

20 September 1968 – Avery Hill College, Eltham, southeast London with The Kinsmen and Ten Street Dormat (South East London Mercury)

21 September 1968 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire (Swindon Evening Advertiser)

22 September 1968 – Pop In, Cromer, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

27 September 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Legay and The Inspiration (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

27 September 1968 – Horsham Capitol Concert, Horsham, West Sussex with The Mike Stuart Span (New Musical Express)

28 September 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (Fabulous 208)

6 October 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, London with Coconut Ice (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

12 October 1968 – Shrewsbury Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Melody Maker)

17 October 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset (Fabulous 208)

18 October 1968 – Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire (Fabulous 208)

19 October 1968 – Leas Cliff Hotel, Folkestone, Kent (Fabulous 208)

6 November 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

12-23 November 1968 – Latino Club and La Dolce Vita, South Shields, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

15 November 1968 – Nottingham University with Cortinas and The Nashville Teens (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

19-23 November 1968 – Club Tito, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

29 November 1968– Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Foundations, Love Affair and The Puncture Outfit (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

7 December 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Little John & The Shaddrocks and Reformation (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

8 December 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, London (Fabulous 208)

9-10 December 1968 – Annabel, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

11 December 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

12 December 1968 – Mecca Ballroom, Burnley, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

14 December 1968 – Links International Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts (Simon Gee research)

24 December 1968 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton (Fabulous 208)

26 December 1968 – Pier Ballroom, Morecambe, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

1969

4 January 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

9 January 1969 – Civic Hall, Connah’s Quay, Wales (Fabulous 208)

10 January 1969 – Palais De Danse, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (Fabulous 208)

11 January 1969 – Market Hall, Haverfordwest, Wales (Fabulous 208)

12 January 1969 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury)

13 January 1969 – St Matthew’s Bath, Ipswich, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)

18 January 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London (Melody Maker)

19 January 1969 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (Melody Maker/South East London Mercury)

21 January 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, south London (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)

21 January 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Clouds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

23 January 1969 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland (Forres Elgin & Nairn Gazette)

24 January 1969 – Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

25 January 1969 – Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen, Scotland (Aberdeen Evening Express)

27 January 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Fabulous 208)

29 January 1969 – Bligh Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent (Fabulous 208)

30 January 1969 – Mecca Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

31 January 1969 – Huddersfield Town Hall, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

1 February 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Pendulum (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)

3 February 1969 – Fiesta Club, Stockton-on-Tees (Fabulous 208)

6 February 1969 – Town Hall, Tavistock (Fabulous 208)

7 February 1969 – Odeon, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

8 February 1969 – Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with Gene Pitney, The Iveys, Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound and Joe Cocker & The Grease Band (South East London Mercury)

9 February 1969 – Gaumont, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

11 February 1969 – Gaumont, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

12 February 1969 – Fairfield Hall, Croydon, London with Gene Pitney, Joe Cocker and The Iveys (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)

13 February 1969 – ABC Gloucester, Gloucester (Fabulous 208)

14 February 1969 – Colston Hall, Bristol (Fabulous 208)

15 February 1969 – Capitol Theatre, Cardiff, Wales (Fabulous 208)

16 February 1969 – Coventry Theatre, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

18 February 1969 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire with Gene Pitney (Fabulous 208)

20 February 1969 – ABC Peterborough, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Fabulous 208)

12 March 1969 – Corn Exchange, Devizes, Wiltshire (Fabulous 208)

14 March 1969 – RAF Valley, Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales (Fabulous 208)

15 March 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Kiss and Barries Magazine (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

16-22 March 1969 – Starlite, Blackburn, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

28 March 1969 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton (Fabulous 208)

29 March 1969 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with Doughnut Ring and King Size Keen Show (Southend Standard)

5 April 1969 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Tuesday’s Outcome (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

3 May 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Procession (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)

15 July 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Dream Police (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

19 July 1969 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Illusions and Ricky Tee (Lincolnshire Standard)

27 July 1969 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with The Embers (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

21 August 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Epics (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)

1 November 1969 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Steve Chapples research)

7 November 1969 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

8 November 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Lee Hawkins (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)

1970

7 March 1970 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Impi and Richmond Green (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

Categories: England

The Fenmen’s gigs 1964-1967

October 19, 2017 Nick Warburton 11 Comments

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

THE FENMEN:

Alan Judge – lead guitar/vocals

Wally Allen – rhythm guitar/vocals

Eric Wilmer – bass

Jon Povey – drums

1964

28 July 1964 – Woodman Tuesday Club, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

15 August 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Johnny Milton & The Condors and The Apollos (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

25 September 1964 – Lynx Club, Maxwell Park Youth Centre, Borehamwood, Herts (Simon Gee research)

18 October 1964 – Florida Rooms, Brighton, West Sussex (Evening Argus)

20 October 1964 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Dan Whitefield, The Initials Beat Combo (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

30 November 1964 – Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne with Jerry Lee Lewis and Angela Dean (Newcastle Evening Echo)

11 December 1964 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton, Northamptonshire (Northampton Chronicle and Echo)

12 December 1964 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Storms (website: http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/)

24 December 1964 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/) First time in Nottingham

1965

9 January 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Takers and The Witnesses (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

23 January 1965 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Twilights (Luton News)

4 February 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

14 February 1965 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)

12 March 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

17 March 1965 – Peartree Club Dance, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (Welwyn Times)

21 March 1965 – Colston Hall, Bristol with The Kinks, Dean Prince &The Dukes, D Starr’s Predictions, The Blue-Sound, Mel Taylor & The Trek-a-Beats, Mike Starr & The Citizens, The Exiles, Danny Clarke & The Jaguars, The Road Runners and AJ & The Others (Western Scene)

26 March 1965 – Docking Shake-O-Rama, Norfolk with The Torinos (Lynn News)

27 March 1965 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton (Northampton Chronicle)

4 April 1965 – Esplanade Theatre, Bognor Regis, West Sussex with The Untamed, Formula 5, The Southbeats and Johnny Devlin & The Act 4 (Chichester & Southern Post)

15 April 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Nashville Teens and The Nightshades (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

25 April 1965 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)

26 April 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Newport, south Wales with Five In Hand (South Wales Argus)

18 May 1965 – Civic Hall, Orpington, southeast London (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

3 June 1965 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Roger & The Rallies (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

5 June 1965 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Walker Brothers and The Peasants (Lincolnshire Standard)

19 June 1965 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The In Crowd and The Notions (Warrington Guardian)

26 June 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Justin Tyme, The Artwoods, The Sorrows and The Dyaks (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

6 July 1965 – Portpatrick Public Hall Management Committee, Portpatrick, Scotland (Wigtownshire Free Press & Galloway Advertiser)

23 July 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Utopians (Lynn News)

30 July 1965 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire with The Rumours (Andover Advertiser)

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

15 August 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times)

20 August 1965 – Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London (NME)

9 September 1965 – The Pilgrim, Haywards Heath, West Sussex with The Dolphins (Mid Sussex Times)

12 September 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

12 September 1965 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with Andy Field & The Continentals and Mike Patto (North Norfolk News)

25 September 1965 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The Still Waters (Cambridge News)

15 October 1965 – Public Hall, Bedfont, Middlesex with The Penny Blacks (Middlesex Chronicle)

6 November 1965 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Diane & The Sapphires, The Beat Six and The Beaucreas (Cambridge News)

12 November 1965 – Beaconsfield Youth Club, Beaconsfield, Bucks with Justice League (Bucks Free Press)

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

21 November 1965 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

4 December 1965 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

11 December 1965 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Wreckers (Cambridgeshire Times)

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

18 December 1965 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks with The Notes (Buckinghamshire Advertiser)

24 December 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Star Support Showname (Evening Sentinel)

31 December 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, The Nitepeople and Mike Sherdian’s Lot (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

1966

22 January 1966 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex with Rod and Carolyn & The Tremors (Essex County Standard)

29 January 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Vandels Blues (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

4 February 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with The Soundtracks (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

13 February 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent (Kent Messenger/Maidstone Gazette)

19 February 1966 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks with The Relics (Buckinghamshire Advertiser)

26 February 1966 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire (Lynn News)

27 February 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

4 March 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle/Melody Maker)

12 March 1966 – 21 Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (The Star)

18 March 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Davey Sands & The Essex and The Fuzz Bangs (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

27 March 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Little Mick’s Modes (The Star)

9 April 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle/Melody Maker)

23 April 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex and The Web with Sandy Crawford (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website/Hastings and St Leonards Observer)

7 May 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Checkmates and Two of Each (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

13 May 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with Yes & No (East Kent Times)

21 May 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Anteaks (Maidstone Gazette)

28 May 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

29 May 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Symbols (Melody Maker)

3 June 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with Something Else (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

4 June 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Breed (Cambridgeshire Times)

11 June 1966 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks (Buckinghamshire Advertiser)

18 June 1966 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Triads (website: http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/)

2 July 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with support (Evening Sentinel)

3 July 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

8 July 1966 – Tech College, Romford, east London (Fabulous 208)

9 July 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Fortunes, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, The Gates of Eden, Freddie Fingers Lee, The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)

15 July 1966 – Grimsby Mecca, Grimsby, Humberside with The Troggs (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

16 July 1966 – Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

22 July 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary Cray, southeast London (PACE magazine)

23 July 1966 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Sounds Incorporated and Trendsetters Limited (Fabulous 208/Essex County Standard)

29 July 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)

30 July 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Fabulous 208)

4 August 1966 – Locarno, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

5 August 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

6 August 1966 – ABC Promotions, Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Ketas (Lynn News)

7 August 1966 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

10 August 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (Cornish Guardian)

12-13 August 1966 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester with Fan Antons, Jerry Shaw and The Checkmates (Warrington Guardian)

12 August 1966 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

12 August 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

13 August 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Coletrane Union (Nottingham Evening Post)

14 August 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

19 August 1966 – Co-op Hall, Gravesend, Kent (Fabulous 208)

27 August 1966 – New Cornish Rivera Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with Acoustics (Cornish Guardian)

1 September 1966 – Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)

2 September 1966 – Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

2 September 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

3 September 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Challengers (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

5 September 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)

8 September 1966 – Regal Ballroom, Ripley, Surrey (Fabulous 208)

9 September 1966 – Beat Festival, Scunthorpe United Football Ground, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, The Ram Jam Band, The Creation, The Mindbenders and The Troggs (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

10 September 1966 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Syndicate 5 (Scarborough Evening News)

15 September 1966 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Action (Fabulous 208)

16 September 1966 – Grimsby Mecca, Grimsby, Humberside with Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

17 September 1966 – All Saints Hall, Whetstone, north London (Fabulous 208)

24 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Rochester, Kent (Fabulous 208)

1 October 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London (Fabulous 208)

2 October 1966 – Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

15 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

15 October 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom Grimsby, Humberside with The Boz and The School (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

29 October 1966 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)

3 November 1966 – Enterprise Club, Eastcote, northwest London (Fabulous 208)

4 November 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire (Fabulous 208)

5 November 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Wreckers (Cambridgeshire Times)

6 November 1966 – Diamond Club, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (Fabulous 208)

12 November 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Reaction (Cornish Guardian)

27 November 1966 – Drill Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Southern Valley Four (Surrey Advertiser)

1 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

3 December 1966 – Eastbourne College, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Fabulous 208)

4 December 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

9 December 1966 – Colona College, West Wickham, London (Fabulous 208)

10 December 1966 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey (Fabulous 208)

16 December 1966 – Iron Curtain Club, St Mary Cray, southeast London (PACE magazine)

22 December 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Sounds Incorporated, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Skyliners (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

31 December 1966 – ABC Promotions, Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The 13^th Hour (Lynn News)

1967

10 January 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)

14 January 1967 –Norwich University, Norwich, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

15 January 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker)

20 January 1967 – Birkbeck College, London (Fabulous 208)

21 January 1967 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

22 January 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star)

3 February 1967 – Birmingham University, Birmingham, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

5 February 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

10 February 1967 – University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent (Fabulous 208)

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

16 February 1967 – Locarno, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

17 February 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, London (Melody Maker)

18 February 1967 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

22 February 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Claredon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (Fabulous 208/PACE magazine)

24 February 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

25 February 1967 – Sheffield University, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

4 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London with Felder’s Orioles (Melody Maker)

18 March 1967 – College of Technology, Bulmershe, Reading, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

25 March 1967 – Clouds, Derby with The Executives (Derby Evening Telegraph)

26 March 1967 – Tavern Club, East Dereham, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)

Jon Povey and Wally Waller left about this time to join The Pretty Things – Waller remembers that his debut gig was around Easter (late March) in Les Sables-d’Olonne in France

Initially, Jon Povey was replaced by drummer Tony Newman from Sounds Incorporated before Tony Glyde from The Loose Ends took over on drums. Glyde left around late July and subsequently joined Simon K & The Meantimers.

Andy Clark from the Big Wheel joined on keyboards and vocals.

The group was expanded for a while and I would welcome any reader insights

8 April 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Revelations (Surrey Advertiser)

9 April 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star) Billed as Bag O’ Nails

16 April 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Bag of Nails (eight-piece with members of The Fenmen)

22 April 1967 – St Luke’s College, Exeter, Devon (Fabulous 208) Billed as Bag O’Nails

6 May 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Fraction (Cambridgeshire Times) Billed as New Fenmen

29 May 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire with Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours and Sack O’ Woe (Hull Daily Mail)

3 June 1967 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Son Set (Torquay Times/Torbay Times and South Devon Echo)

9 June 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Ossie Layne (Evening Sentinel) Billed as Bag O’Nails

10 June 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

17 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

26 June 1967 – Staffordshire Yeoman, Stafford (Stafford Newsletter)

1 July 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as Bag O’Nails

22 July 1967 – Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Bag O’Nails

23 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)

In late July/early August Del Coverley from Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede took over on drums. The musicians briefly gigged as Kindness

4 August 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph) Billed as Kindness

12 August 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star) Billed as Kindness

18 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) Billed as Kindness

19 August 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Shell Shock Show and The Shay (Essex County Standard) Billed as The New Fenmen

27 August 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with Paul Ryan & The Scorpions (Northwich Chronicle) Billed as Kindness

Photo: Cityweek, Belfast, 31 August 1967. Image may be subject to copyright

1 September 1967 – Ricky Tick Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Interns (Cityweek) Del Coverley confirmed this was Kindness from London not a US band from the west coast.

9 September 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Provokers (Cornish Guardian)

15 September 1967 – “Big C”, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News) Billed as Kindness

16 September 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker) Billed as Bag O’ Nails

19 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Life ‘N’ Soul (Evening Sentinel) Billed as Kindness

24 September 1967 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Billed as Kindness

9 October 1967 – Staffordshire Yeoman, Stafford (Stafford Newsletter) Billed as Kindness

16 December 1967 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Rupert Bear (Northwich Chronicle/Crewe Chronicle) According to Wrexham Leader, support was The Idols

Categories: England, London

Cats Pyjamas

April 23, 2017 Nick Warburton 8 Comments

Left to right: Colin Pullen, Roy Manderson, Kenny Bernard, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Thanks to Colin for the image.

Kenny Bernard – lead vocals
Alan Griffin – lead guitar
Colin Pullen – bass
Phil Lanzon – keyboards
Roy Manderson – drums

Hailing from South London Cats Pyjamas released two highly inventive yet extremely rare and collectable 45s for the Direction label during 1968. The quintet’s music bridged psychedelia and progressive rock with hints of soul/R&B and both releases were notable for their top notch production and the superlative musicianship of its players.

Trinidad-born singer Kenny Bernard had first come to prominence with R&B outfit The Wranglers during 1963. Formed around the Lewisham area, the previous year, the group subsequently recorded a lone single for the Pye label, “The Tracker”, which was released in August 1965. Around the same time, the musicians were captured live at the Ad Lib Club in Leicester Square for a rare acetate that years later found its way into the hands of Mark Lamarr. The DJ passed the live tracks to the Acid Jazz label, which released the recordings as the Kenny Bernard & The Wranglers Live ’65 CD in 2011.

When The Wranglers splintered a few months later, Bernard stayed with Pye Records and recorded a cache of stylish R&B/soul-inspired singles during 1966 and 1967, none of which troubled the charts. However, as Bernard noted in his autobiography, You Came Into My Life, he found going solo a daunting experience and missed working with a band on stage.

One night (the most plausible date is sometime in June 1967), the singer was out at the Scotch of St James nightclub in Mayfair with his old friend Pete Gage, former guitarist in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, when he heard that South London group, The Loose Ends, were looking for a singer to front the band.

Originally from Bexley Heath in Kent, The Loose Ends had cut a couple of singles for Decca Records with singer Alan Marshall at the helm before undergoing a major overhaul in October 1966, which left the singer with the name. Marshall’s manager Bryan Mason then linked him with Croydon outfit, The Subjects, who featured guitarist Alan Griffin, keyboard player Phil Lanzon and drummer Roy Manderson.

The Subjects, 1966. Left to right: John Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Thanks to Alan for the image.

Over the next few months, The Loose Ends’ manager also started to bring in musicians from Bexley band, Bob ‘N’ All to replace outgoing musicians. These included new bass player Colin Pullen and second singer Bob Saker. However, shortly before taking up a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan in mid-January 1967, first Roy Manderson and then Alan Griffin dropped out to make way for new recruits. Both, however, kept in touch with Phil Lanzon.

Fast forward to early March and The Loose Ends were back in London, and with Alan Griffin back in the fold, the group performed at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy. Shortly after a gig at the Central London Polytechnic on 15 April, where they opened for The Savoy Brown Blues Band, singers Alan Marshall and Bob Saker took up soul legend Otis Redding’s offer to fly to the US to record at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals.

Left without their two front men, The Loose Ends, who’d brought Roy Manderson back on board after his replacement Tony Glyde had left to join first The Fenmen and then Simon K & The Meantimers, put out feelers for another singer. With Marshall and Saker out of the picture, the musicians also decided to revamp themselves as Cats Pyjamas.

After spending a month or so working up a stage set with Kenny Bernard, Colin Pullen recalls that the group’s debut gig took place at a college in Epsom, Surrey, which quite possibly could have been nearby Ewell Technical College Refectory, a popular local venue for up and coming bands to perform at.

Over the next few months, Cats Pyjamas gigged fairly incessantly, and one of the band’s most notable gigs during this period was an appearance at the Starlight Room at Boston Gliderdrome in September with The Original Drifters. Pullen also recalls playing in Bournemouth’s Winter Gardens during the first few months of the group’s existence.

However, in early December, Cats Pyjamas secured a crucial deal with the Rik Gunnell Agency, which most likely was brokered by their manager Pete Gage, who’d co-written one of the band’s standout songs, “Virginia Water” with Kenny Bernard and had previous dealings with the agency during his time with The Ram Jam Band.

Selected gigs:

According to the Reading Evening Post, 12 August, Kenny Bernard plays at the Bag O’Nails around this time (and this would be with Cats Pyjamas).

13 August 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Geranium Pond (Crawley Advertiser)

30 September 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Original Drifters and The Magic Roundabout (Lincolnshire Standard)

7 October 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

22 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)

4 November 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Scots of St James (Evening Sentinel)

11 November 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Geranium Pond (Bedfordshire Times)

2 December 1967 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend, Essex with John Walker and The Timebox and The Seychells (Southend Standard)

2 December 1967 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire with Tramline (Evening Post: Hemel Hempstead)

8 December 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Wafer Board (Evening Sentinel)

The link-up with the Rik Gunnell Agency brought in steady stream of live work and importantly gave the band a regular spot to shine at the agency’s top Soho club, the Bag O’Nails on Kingley Street. It also led to a recording deal with the Direction label and, that same month, the musicians recorded a superb version of Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector’s “Baby, I Love You”, originally a top 30 US hit for The Ronettes in 1963, at Olympic Studio’s in Barnes.

To this listener’s ears, however, it is the flip, the Pete Gage/Kenny Bernard penned “Virginia Water” that is the more impressive recording. A psych/prog-rock masterpiece, the song, named after the Surrey commuter town, benefits greatly from Mervyn Conn’s excellent production and demonstrates the inventiveness of a band that is only a few months old.

Alan Griffin sets the scene with a sizzling “nosediving” guitar effect, which is soon buried in the rhythm section’s intricate, syncopated bass and percussion lines. The action then cuts back to the guitarist, who interjects with a series of strident riffs, signalling the arrival of Phil Lanzon’s majestic, prog-rock Hammond fills. As the brooding atmosphere threatens to spill over, Kenny Bernard joins the fray with his distinctive, powerful and soulful lead vocals.

The single, when released on 26 January 1968, should have been a massive hit, but instead sank without a trace. Perhaps “Virginia Water” would have fared better had it been promoted as the A-side but then again the band’s unique style, marrying psych-progressive rock with soul influences was probably far too inventive and dare I say it, “ahead of its time” to meet the narrow demands of the pop charts. Needless to say, breaking into top echelons of the charts was practically an impossibility anyway given The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and others’ virtual stranglehold.

Interestingly, “Virginia Water” caught the attention of Scottish progressive-rock band, Writing on The Wall, who later recorded the track under an “unknown” title for their Power of The Picts LP.

Selected gigs:

15 December 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 December 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18 December 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

19 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

22 December 1967 – Roaring 20’s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 December 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 December 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

26 December 1967 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 December 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29-30 December 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

31 December 1967 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 January 1968 – “Big C”, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 January 1968 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11-12 January 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

13 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gods (Tony Bacon’s Book: London Live)

13-14 January 1968 – Il Grotto, Ilford, Essex (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

15 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 January 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

19 January 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 January 1968 – Margon’s College, King’s Road, Chelsea, southwest London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21 January 1968 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Salisbury Journal)

25-26 January 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 January 1968 – Holborn College of Law, Red Lion Square, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 January 1968 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Deuce Coupe (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

1 February 1968 – RAF Wyton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 February 1968 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 February 1968 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 February 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9-10 February 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

10 February 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Merseys and North Sea Bubble (Southend Standard)

13-15 February 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 February 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 February 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18 February 1968 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Amboy Dukes (Birmingham Evening Mail/Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 February 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 February 1968 – Boat 27, Sibyllas, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 February 1968 – Ceasar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 February 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 March 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

Undeterred by the chart failure of their debut 45, Cats Pyjamas returned to Olympic Studios in Barnes with Mervyn Conn to record a follow up release. According to Rik Gunnell’s agency bookings, the group spent two days recording (4 and 5 March).

Colin Pullen remembers that The Steve Miller Band were recording tracks for Children of The Future in the studio next door and when Cats Pyjamas had finished their session they watched the San Francisco group at work.

During the sessions, Cats Pyjamas recorded two new Kenny Bernard songs, “Camera Man” and “Houses”. Bernard would revisit the pedestrian “Houses” in later years and but here the rest of the band give the song a semi-acoustic treatment complete with progressive organ fills. To this listener’s ears, the track wouldn’t sound out of place on The Small Faces’ Autumn Stone or Family’s Music From a Doll’s House. Far better is the raving Mod/prog cross-over “Camera Man” with its infectious chorus and stomping, driving beat.

Like “Virginia Water”, “Camera Man” demonstrates just how innovative Cats Pyjamas could be in the studio; unfortunately the group’s second outing would follow its predecessor into obscurity. The tragedy is that the group never got the opportunity to cut more material towards an LP.

Selected gigs:

7 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

8 March 1968 – Meridan Youth Club, Royston, Hertfordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9 March 1968 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11-12 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 March 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Friction (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Cambridgeshire Times)

17 March 1968 – King Alfred, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 March 1968 – Central School of Art, Southampton Row, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 March 1968 – Foseco Sports & Social Club, Drayton Manor, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25-27 March 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25-27 March 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 March 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

30 March 1968 – Twickenham College, Twickenham, west London with Mystie Romance (Melody Maker)

3 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

5 April 1968 – Ministry of Health, Alexander Fleming House, Elephant & Castle, London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 April 1968 – Stax Club, Cirencester, Gloucestershire with The Purple Barrier (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

7 April 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

9 April 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 April 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

13 April 1968 – White Tiles Disco, Swindon, Wiltshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

14-15 April 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

19-20 April 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21 April 1968 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Yarmouth Mercury)

25 April 1968 – Station Hotel, Selly Oak, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 April 1968 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 April 1968 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with The Happiness (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Express & Star)

27 April 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Birmingham Evening Mail)

28 April 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 April-3 May 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

4 May 1968 – Brave New World, Eastney, Hampshire (Website: http://michaelcooper.org.uk/C/birdcage.htm)

9-10 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 May 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

12 May 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

13 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 May 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18 May 1968 – Dandylion Club, Cross Hands Inn, Brockworth, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen/Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 May 1968 – Yeoman, Stafford, Staffordshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21-22 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

24 May 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

30-31 May 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

Released on 24 May 1968, “Camera Man” c/w “Houses” was another creative step forward but all was not well within the band. As Bernard later admitted in his autobiography, the singer was increasingly coming to blows with the rest of the group, both musically and personally. A rare high point was a month-long residency at the Stones Club in Madrid during June where Cats Pyjamas took over from Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Selected gigs:

June 1968 – Stones Club, Madrid, Spain (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 July 1968 – Hyde Park Hotel, Debs Ball, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

4 July 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 July 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 July 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

7 July 1968 – King Alfred, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

10 July 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 July 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

12 July 1968 – Bolero Club, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

13 July 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

14 July 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

15-19 July 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 July 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

26 July 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 July 1968 – Petersfield Town Hall, Petersfield, Hampshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

3 August 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, North Yorkshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

4 August 1968 – Beau Brummell Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Scorpions (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Chester Chronicle)

5 August 1968 – Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star) This is missing from Colin’s diary

9 August 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings/Woking Herald)

10 August 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

12 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

17 August 1968 – Swan Hotel, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

23 August 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)

24 August 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Ben E King (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25 August 1968 – Excel Bowling Alley, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25 August 1968 – Cellar Club, Hartlepool, County Durham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

30-31 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

2 September 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 September 1968 – John Gunnell’s Wedding Reception, 55, Jermyn St, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

8 September 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, Oval, south London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11-13 September 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

14 September 1968 – Britannia Club, Nottingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

15 September 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20-21 September 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28 September 1968 – Rainbow Suite, Co-op, Birmingham (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

29 September 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

4 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

5 October 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Bellingham, southeast London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

6 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

11 October 1968 – Kingston College of Art, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

18-19 October 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

20 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

21 October 1968 – Rasputin’s, New Bond Street, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

25 October 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

26 October 1968 – White Hart, Acton, west London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

27 October 1968 – Mercer’s Arms, Swan Lane, Coventry, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

28-31 October 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

1-9 November 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

10 November 1968 – Swan Hotel, Yardley, West Midlands (Rik Gunnell Agency bookings)

16 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) Missing from Colin’s diary

The band late 1968. Left to right: Phil Lanzon, Alan Griffin, Kenny Bernard, Roy Manderson (back) and Colin Pullen. Thanks to Alan for the photo.

Having returned to the UK after working in Madrid for a month during June 1968, tensions between Kenny Bernard and the rest of the band continued to grow and following some final gigs for Rik Gunnell in mid-November, the singer parted ways to resume a solo career.

Cats Pyjamas stuck together a bit longer but sometime in 1969 Colin Pullen left. Around November of that year, remaining members Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon and Roy Manderson joined Geno Washington and worked as his Ram Jam Band until the spring of 1970. Griffin remained with the singer when he put together a new version that year.

Phil Lanzon, however, maintained the greatest profile over the succeeding years, later working with Grand Prix, Chris Spedding and Sweet among others before joining Uriah Heep in 1986 with whom he continues to play.

Huge thanks to Colin Pullen (who kindly shared the Rik Gunnell Agency booking list), Alan Griffin and Phil Lanzon for providing information about the band.

Categories: England, London

Simon K & The Meantimers

November 19, 2015 Nick Warburton 16 Comments

West London six-piece horn band Simon K & The Meantimers recorded a Hammond-drenched dance-floor classic called “Bring Your Love Back (To Me)”, which was coupled with “You Know I Do” for a UK single on the B&C label in November 1969.

Fronted by current Hot Chocolate lead singer Kenny Simon, The Meantimers had originally formed around mid-1964 in West Hampstead before linking with Simon.

Managed by Arthur Armes, father of the band’s drummer Michael, the original Meantimers also comprised lead guitarist Rick Thomas, classically trained organist Bill Pitt, bass player Warwick Rose and an Irish rhythm guitarist called Tony, who also handled lead vocals (sometimes with the group’s roadie Mick Eagan).

According to Michael Armes, his father turned the basement of his shop on Belsize Road in Kilburn into a rehearsal and recording room. It may well have been here that Simon cut some demos with West London band, The Tribe, including future Sweet guitarist Frank Torpey, that were picked up by Arthur Armes.

Former Overlanders’ bass player Paul Hewson had already taken over from Warwick Rose, who’d moved on to join The Soul Survivors, an early incarnation of The Love Affair, sometime before Kenny Simon joined on vocals.

It is not clear when Kenny Simon joined The Meantimers but he was definitely on-board by May 1966. Initially, they continued to be billed as The Meantimers but in early 1967 starting going out as Simon K & The Meantimers.

Selected gigs:

20 May 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

30 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The New Jump Band and Rey Anton & The Profam (billed as The Meantimers)

9 July 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Keith Powell Billie Davis Soul Package

30 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Creation

1 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers) Says direct from the Pontiac, Putney, London

7 August 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

15 August 1966 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)

21 August 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

27 August 1966 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Graham Bond Organization (billed as The Meantimers)

31 August 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Falling Leaves (billed as The Meantimers)

24 September 1966 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Clockwork Shots

9 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

14 October 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex with support (billed as The Meantimers)

30 October 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with Ian & Danny Eves and The Reformation (billed as The Meantimers)

3 November 1966 – Club De Danse, Colchester, Essex

5 November 1966 – Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Ironsides

9 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

13 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

21 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire (billed as The Meantimers)

26 November 1966 – Newmarket Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The 13^th Floor (billed as The Meantimers)

Michael Armes, 1967 — Michael Armes, 1966/1967

A bass player called Terry briefly took over from Hewson in early 1967 but soon left to work in the West End as a scenery mover. Around the same time, former Quiet Five drummer Ray Hailey succeeded Michael Armes.

Selected gigs:

1 January 1967 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

6 January 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)

14 January 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

19 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

21 January 1967 – Winter Gardens, Banbury with Phase III (billed as The Meantimers)

22 January 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

29 January 1967 – Embassy Club, Colchester, Essex with Lee Shelby Federation (billed as The Meantimers)

11 February 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Unloved (billed as The Meantimers)

19 February 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Neat Change

23 February 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Tender Trap (billed as The Meantimers)

26 February 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Meantimers)

11 March 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks (billed as Simon Dee & The Meantimers)

12 March 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, Essex with Pussyfoot (billed as The Meantimers)

1 April 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Sales Collection (billed as The Meantimers)

7 April 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (billed as The Meantimers)

9 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Rick and Us (billed as The Meantimers)

11 April 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (billed as The Meantimers)

12 April 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

16 April 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

22 April 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)

28 April 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London with The Groove (billed as The Meantimers)

6 May 1967 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with The Strangers (billed as The Meantimers)

12 May 1967 – Co-Op Hall, Chesham, Bucks (billed as Simon Kay)

13 May 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Just Friends, The Fugitives and The Martells

17 May 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

20 May 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex (Billed as Simon K & The Meantimers)

21 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)

Simon K & The Meantimers, circa spring 1967. Photo: Michael Armes — The Meantimers, May 1966. Photo: Michael Armes

However, the changes did not end there and in early-to-mid-1967 an entirely new line up came together, starting with lead guitarist George Teo.

Originally, from Singapore, Teo had migrated to the UK in the early 1960s with friends Sam Young on bass and brothers Andrew and John Gwee on guitar and drums respectively and formed The Etceteras. After two singles on the Oriole label in 1964, Teo next joined the Ying Tongs before hooking up with The Meantimers.

Also on board were siblings, bass player Mick Glyde and drummer Tony Glyde (brothers of Major Glyde, the lead sax player from Sounds Incorporated) and sax players Brent Carter, Alan Wherry and Ken Hendy, who was later replaced by former Cliff Bennett Rebel Rousers’ baritone sax player Sid Phillips in late 1967/early 1968.

Tony Glyde had previously worked with Southeast London bands, Bob ‘N’ All, The Loose Ends and Bern Elliott’s former group, The Fenmen while Alan Wherry had come from The Richard Henry Sensation (with David O’List) and Harlem Shuffle (with Alan Shacklock). Brent Carter had also been a member of Harlem Shuffle.

Wherry remembers that the group also had a keyboard player but it wasn’t Bill Pitt. Mick Glyde confirms that the keyboard player’s name was Terry Vandenburgh. Vanenburgh however had left before Sid Phillips joined in late 1967/early 1968 and the group recruited a Russian Hammond organist.

Wherry left in early 1968 and later moved in to publishing, as director of Corgi, Penguin and then as co-founder of Bloomsbury in London in 1986.

The remaining members stayed until about late spring/early summer 1968, during which time former Quiet Five drummer Roger “Tex” Marsh took over the drum stool from Tony Glyde.

Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Left to right: George Teo, Brent Carter (shades), Mick Glyde, Kenny Simon, Alan Wherry, unknown organist, Tony Glyde. Ken Hendy is not pictured. Photo: Alan Wherry — Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Left to right: George Teo, Brent Carter (shades), Mick Glyde, Kenny Simon, Alan Wherry, Terry Vandenburgh, Tony Glyde. Ken Hendy is not pictured. Photo: Alan Wherry

Selected gigs:

3 June 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Groove

4 June 1967 – Klue J Klub, Saracens Head Hotel, Chelmsford, Essex (billed as The Meantimers)

6-7 June 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

10 June 1967 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Berkshire (Meantimers)

24 June 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)

1 July 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

2 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (billed as Meantimers)

22 July 1967 – Witch Doctor, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Poor Boys Soul Band

29 July 1967 – Memorial Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk with The Blueprints (billed as The Meantimers)

5 August 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

6 August 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (billed as The Meantimers)

9 August 1967 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend, Kent

11 August 1967 – Windmill Club, Upminster, east London

20 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London

25 August 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (billed as The Meantimers)

2 September 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

8 September 1967 – London Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

9 September 1967 – Framlingham Assembly Hall, Framlingham, Suffolk with The Wild Oats

17 September 1967 – Sunday’s Flower Scene, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire with Jeanette and Abee

23 September 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks

24 September 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

28 September 1967 – Wexham Lea Youth Club, Slough, Berkshir with Rick Marston

7 October 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

8 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10 October 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

22 October 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London

28 October 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

29 October 1967 – Embassy, Colchester, Essex

4 November 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

10 November 1967 – Kennet School, Thatcham, Berkshire with The Roosters

11 November 1967 – Casino, Leicester

12 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

19 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

26 November 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

28 November 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

2 December 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

3 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

10 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

17 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

24 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

31 December 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

20 January 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

21 January 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Huckle Bucks (billed as The Meantimers)

27 January 1968 – Cesar’s, Bedford, Bedfordshire

13 February 1968 – Public Hall, Witham, Essex

17 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

24 February 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

14 April 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Foursome

20 April 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

27 April 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

11 May 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

25 May 1968 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire with Mr Lucifer (billed as The Meantimers)

1 June 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire

8 June 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham

14 June 1968 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent

21 June 1968 – Victoria Ball, Dartford, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

22 June 1968 – Gig in Brighton, West Sussex (billed as The Meantimers)

23 June 1968 – Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (billed as The Meantimers)

24 June 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as The Meantimers)

6 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

13 July 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Trax

2 August 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (billed as Meantimers)

3 August 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex (billed as Meantimers)

4 August 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Oval, south London (billed as Meantimers)

6-7 August 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (billed as Meantimers)

24 August 1968 – Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

31 August 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Rocky Rivers

14 September 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

21 September 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

28 September 1968 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with Faux Pas

29 September 1968 – Silver End Hotel, near Witham, Essex

By the autumn of 1968, Kenny Simon had reshuffled the pack, bringing in Marsh’s former band mate from The Quiet Five, Roger McKew on lead guitar. Sid Phillips had already left by this point to go on to Redwind and his place was taken by Tony Hall, whose CV including Peter’s Faces, Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Rupert’s Spoon.

The new formation then comprised:

Kenny Simon – lead vocals

Roger McKew – lead guitar

Tony Hall – saxophone

Brent Carter – saxophone

Mick Glyde – bass

Roger ‘Tex’ Marsh – drums

The new-look formation resumed gigging. In March 1969, Brian Johnston from The Fantastics’ backing band, The House of Orange joined on Hammond organ. Two months later, however, Mick Glyde left and was replaced by another bass player.

Later that year, original keyboard player Bill Pitt returned to take over from Johnston. Simon also added Irish trumpet player Ron Carthy, who’d previously worked with The Blue Aces and Wynder K Frog (among others) to the six-piece line up that came together in time to cut the group’s lone ‘45 in November 1969.

In March 1970, however, Brent Carter and Tony Hall also departed at this point and joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

When the band finally splintered in the early 1970s, Pitt ended up working with Espirit de Corps, while Carthy joined Gonzales and also did a multitude of sessions for artists like Freddie King, Slade and Suzi Quatro.

Selected gigs:

5 October 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Cuby & The Blizzards

18 October 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with Amen Corner and Plagel Cadence

19 October 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford with Granny’s Intentions

19 October 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Showstoppers

26 October 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

16 November 1968 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

17 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London

23 November 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London

30 November 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

8 December 1968 – Embassy Suite, Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with The Outcasts

10 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with Olaf Groups Kneed

14 December 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bedford with Luther Morgan & JD with The Red Russo

21 December 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk

22 December 1968 – Le Metro, Birmingham

28 December 1968 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

29 December 1968 – Byron, Greenford, west London

5 January 1969 – Embassy Sunday Club, Colchester, Essex with Peach Umbrella

11 January 1969 – Savoy Club, Catford, southeast London

18 January 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire

1 February 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

16 February 1969 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

22 February 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jon James & The Swamp and The Western Kind

14 March 1969 – Maxi Scene, Angel Hotel, Godalming, Surrey

22 March 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

4 April 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

12 April 1969 – John D’Milton’s Discotheque, Birmingham

19 April 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet

20 April 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

26 April 1969 – Savoy Room, Catford, southeast London with Lee Hawkins

2 May 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Consortium and Octopus

17 May 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire

22 May 1969 – Klook’s Kleek, West Hampstead, north London

6 June 1969 – Chelmsford City Stadium, Chelmsford, Essex

7 June 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, west London

14 June 1969 – Il Rondo, Leicester

28 June 1969 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London

6 July 1969 – New Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

11 July 1969 – The Crown, Marlow, Bucks

26 July 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

28 July 1969 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newsbury, Berkshire with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

30 July 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

2 August 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Sir Percy Quintet

4 August 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Original Principals, The Headline News and Wall City Jazzmen

5-6 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

9 August 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

17-19 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

23 August 1969 – Trocadero Ballroom, Hamilton, Scotland (Wishaw Press says that the band are straight from a continental tour)

25 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London

31 August 1969 – Up The Junction, Crewe, Cheshire with Scotch Corner

6 September 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 September 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

19 September 1969 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with J J Jackson & The Greatest Little Soul Band in The Land and The Ray King Soul Band

4 October 1969 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

8 October 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

11 October 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset

20 October 1969 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Freedom Train, Pendulum and The Wall City Jazzmen

25 October 1969 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Lovin’ Spoonful

8 November 1969 – Alex’s Disco, Salisbury, Wiltshire

21 November 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

23 November 1969 – Le Metro, Birmingham

25 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

29 November 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 December 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands

13 December 1969 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Acoustics

31 December 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

7 February 1970 – Cloud 9, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Many thanks to Kenny Simon, Michael Armes, Tony Hall, Alan Wherry, Ken Hendy, Sid Phillips, Mick Glyde and Bruce Welsh for their help. Thank you Michael Armes and Alan Wherry for the photos.

Very little is known about the personnel in Simon K & The Meantimers. The author would be interested to hear from anyone that can provide more detail on the group for a future, updated version. Please email the author, Nick Warburton at Warchive@aol.com

Categories: England, Eurex

Big Wheel

December 18, 2014 Nick Warburton 4 Comments

Paul Stroud – lead vocals

Del Grace – lead guitar (replaced by Ron Bryer)

Mike Manners – organ (replaced by Andy Clark)

Barry Nicholls – bass (replaced by Mick Holland)

Del Coverley – drums

Formed in southeast London in late 1965, the original line-up included former Epitaphs Soul Band guitarist Del Grace, who joined forces with longstanding lead singer Paul Stroud, bass player Barry Nicholls and organist Mike Manners after meeting at Music Land in Bexley Heath, a shop owned by Tom Jennings, founder of Jennings Musical Instruments Ltd.

Before the turn of the year, former Scimitars sticks man Del Coverley replaced the original drummer, Rick Dyett.

Photo: Del Grace. Left to right: Del Coverley, Barry Nicholls, Paul Stroud, Del Grace and Mike Manners, 1966

Big Wheel gigged incessantly around the London area and played regularly at the Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, working with notable acts like John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Graham Bond Organisation. In February 1966, the musicians played at Berlin Jazz Festival (see below).

Around April 1966, Mike Manners dropped out and Andy Clark from The Epitaph Soul Band took his place.

Photo: Del Grace. Left to right: Del Coverley, Andy Clark, Del Grace, Barry Nicholls and Paul Stroud, circa April 1966.

On 6 June, the new formation left England to tour Germany and Switzerland. On the band’s return, both Del Grace and Barry Nicholls both departed.

Photo: Del Grace. Left to right: Mike Manners, Mick Holland, Barry Nicholls, Del Coverley (car roof), Paul Stroud and Del Grace, spring 1966

Del Grace joined The Carl Douglas Set in July 1966, which morphed into Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede. Barry ‘Baz’ Nicholls, years later, joined heavy metal band, More, with whom he continues to gig.

With further gigs lined up in Switzerland, Andy Clark recommended former Carl Douglas Set guitarist Ron Bryer (aka Ron Spence), who’d previously worked with The Loose Ends and bass player Mick Holland from The Epitaph Soul Band.

The new configuration developed quite a following in Switzerland, playing at the Tanzrad in Basel before moving on to Zurich. Big Wheel even issued a hopelessly rare (Swiss-only) mod single, Andy Clark’s “Don’t Give Up That Easy” c/w “You’re Only Hurting Yourself”, released on the Eurex label in February 1967.

However, in early November 1966, Del Coverley left to join Del Grace and original Big Wheel organist Mike Manners in Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

It’s likely that the remaining Big Wheel members stayed in Switzerland until at least spring 1967 whereupon all of the musicians except Ron Bryer returned to the UK.

Bryer joined Berry Window & The Movements before forming Brainticket in 1968. The band cut a lone album “Cottonwoodhill” in 1971. Bryer later returned to the UK and briefly worked with One (led by his old Loose Ends singer Alan Marshall) but died of a drug overdose around 1973.

Back in the UK, Andy Clark reunited with Del Coverley in The Fenmen (aka Kindness). This proved to be short-lived and after working with Sam Gopal’s Dream and Vamp, he formed Dogs Blues (with Coverley) and then Clark-Hutchinson, which brought Coverley in for its 1970 and 1971 albums, “Retribution” and “Gestalt”. In the interim, Coverley had played with Fat Daughter during 1969.

Original member, Mike Manners would record two singles with Johnny Young in 1967 after leaving Carl Douglas in July 1967. Del Grace, meanwhile, would record solo material for United Artists and Liberty before moving to Spain and cutting solo CDs.

Many thanks to Del Coverley, Del Grace and Mike Manners for helping to piece this story together. Thanks also to Rolf at Feathered Apple Records in Switzerland for the use of the Eurex single scans

Categories: England, London

Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, southeast London

December 5, 2014 Nick Warburton 63 Comments

John Mayall, Phaethon's Brethren, Long John Baldry, Cheminoes, Bromley Court Hotel — February 1965 ad courtesy of Peter Cornwell of Phaethon’s Brethren

The Bromel Club was initially a jazz venue that was located in the Bromley Court Hotel on Bromley Hill in south east London. During the 1960s, it hosted most of the top British bands of the day, including Cream, Pink Floyd and The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

I’ve started to compile a gig list and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as memories of the venue. These are advertised gigs so it’s quite possible that artists may have changed at the last minute.

If you played in one of the group, it would be great if you could provide some history of your band too in the comments below.

Also, if you have any old posters you can share, I would love to hear from you and will ensure you are credited.

1964

I don’t have many gigs listed for this year and earlier and would welcome any contributions.

10 April – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

29 June – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

22 July – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

24 July – The Soul Agents (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-soul-agents.html)

26 July – The Pretty Things (Beat Monthly)

5 August – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

16 August – The Pretty Things (Beat Monthly)

23 August – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

26 August – The Pretty Things (Beat Monthly)

27 September – The Pretty Things (Beat Instrumental)

21 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

9 November – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/graham-bond-organization-family-tree.html)

20 December – The Soul Agents (Bruno Ceriotti’s research at: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-soul-agents.html)

1965

Judging by the gigs below, rock artists performed on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Jazz artists played on Tuesdays (my list is incomplete).

The gigs are all from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.

3 January – The Moody Blues

4 January – The South West Five

6 January – Sonny Boy Williamson with Shorty & Them

7 January – Billy Woods Combo

10 January – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

11 January – Their Lordships

13 January – The Stormsville Shakers

14 January – The Billy Woods Combo

17 January – The Spencer Davis Group

18 January – Themselves

20 January – The Yardbirds

21 January – The Billy Woods Combo

24 January – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 January – The Loose Ends

27 January – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band

28 January – The Copains

31 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

1 February – Phaethon’s Brethren

3 February – Long John Baldy

4 February – The Cheminoes

7 February – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

8 February – The Black Jacks

10 February – Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers

11 February – The Second Thoughts

14 February – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

15 February – The Westsiders

17 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

18 February – Blues by Knight

21 February – The Animals

22 February – The Britons

24 February – Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated

25 February – The Loose Ends

28 February – The Falling Leaves

1 March – The Dissatisfied

3 March – The Spencer Davis Group

4 March – The Cops ‘N’ Robbers

7 March – Manfred Mann

8 March – Brothers Grim

10 March – Davy Jones & The Manish Boys

11 March – The Drovers

14 March – The Mike Cotton Sound

15 March – missing entry

17 March – Champion Jack Dupree with The Sheffields

18 March – missing entry

21 March – Alex Harvey Soul Band

22 March – missing entry

24 March – The Animals

25 March – missing entry

28 March – The T-Bones (Gary Farr’s band)

29 March – The Ingoes

31 March – The Who

1 April – The Bumps in the Night

4 April – The Pretty Things

5 April – Paul & The Travellers

7 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

8 April – The Tribe

11 April – The Spencer Davis Group

12 April – The Exits

14 April – Long John Baldry

15 April – The Pilgrims

18 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

19 April – The Moaners

21 April – The Yardbirds

22 April – Isaiash’s Prophets

25 April – The Nashville Teens

26 April – The Toys

28 April – The Who

29 April – The Impacts

2 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

3 May – The Vandals Blues

5 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

6 May – The Five Proud Walkers

9 May –The Moody Blues

10 May – The Lawlers Legs

12 May – John Lee Hooker (was this with The Cops ‘N’ Robbers backing?)

13 May – The Hammond K Four

16 May – The Loose Ends

17 May – The Heart and Souls

19 May – The Spencer Davis Group

20 May – The Board Walkers

23 May – Manfred Mann

24 May – The Pineapple Chunks

26 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

27 May – The Bumps in the Night

30 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

31 May – The CC Riders

2 June – The Soul Sisters with Brian Auger Trinity

3 June – The Solar Sounds

6 June – Alex Harvey (Soul Band)

7 June – The Peasants

9 June – Long John Baldry

10 June – The Desperados

13 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Preachers

14 June – The Five Road Runners

16 June – Graham Bond Organisation

17 June – The Epitaph Soul Band

20 June – The Five Dimensions

21 June – The Trees

23 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

24 June – Modern Blues Six

27 June – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

28 June – The Doons

30 June – The Epitaphs with supporting group

1 July – The Board Walkers

4 July – Graham Bond Organisation

5 July – The Planets

7 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

8 July – The CC Riders

11 July – The Artwoods

12 July – The Equals

14 July – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

15 July – The Spurleeweeves

18 July – Inez and Charlie Foxx with (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

19 July – Red, Whites, Blues (according to Bob Hodges, this band soon changed name to The New Jump Band)

21 July – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

22 July – The Bo Bo Links

25 July – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

26 July – The Brethren

28 July – The Spencer Davis Group

29 July – The Ancient Britains

1 August – John Lee’s Groundhogs

2 August – The Medieval Sounds

4 August – The Mike Cotton Sound

5 August – The Eyes

8 August – missing entry

9 August – missing entry

11 August – missing entry

12 August – missing entry

15 August – Club is closed

16 August – The Five of That

18 August – Steampacket

19 August – The Equals

21 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Preachers (Saturday night)

22 August – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

23 August – The Prophets

25 August – The Graham Bond Organisation

26 August – The Planets

29 August – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

30 August – The Bungle Fins

1 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

2 September – Red, Whites, Blues

5 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

6 September – The Worrying Kind

8 September – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

9 September – Red, Whites, Blues (according to Bob Hodges, this band soon changed name to The New Jump Band)

12 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

13 September – The Creepers

15 September – The Graham Bond Organisation

16 September – Leslie Gantzer

19 September – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

20 September – The Five Aces

21 September – Alan Elsdon Jazz Band (Tuesday night – does that mean jazz was on Tuesdays?)

22 September – The Spencer Davis Group

23 September – The Byrd-Herd

26 September – The Small Faces

27 September – Steve & The What 4

28 September – Terry Lightfoot (Tuesday night)

29 September – Bo Diddley

30 September – The Image

3 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

4 October – The Changing Times

5 October – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night)

6 October – The Alan Price Set

7 October – The Bumps in the Night

10 October – The Graham Bond Organisation

11 October – The Five Road Runners

12 October – Alex Welsh (Tuesday night)

13 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

14 October – Planet Six

17 October – The Herd

18 October – The Motivation (original version from Norbury, south London)

19 October – Chris Barber (Tuesday night)

20 October – The Graham Bond Organisation

21 October – The Bungle-Finns

24 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

25 October – The Prowlers

26 October – Eric Silk’s Southern Jazzband and Brian Green’s New Orleans Stompers

27 October – Steampacket

28 October – The Sons of Fred

31 October – Ben E King

1 November – The Classics

2 November – The Keith Smith Band (Tuesday night)

3 November – The Spencer Davis Group

4 November – The Changing Times

7 November – The Train (aka Moon’s Train), The Preachers – Lew Rich with The Other Two

8 November – Junco’s Jump Band

9 November – Closed this week

10 November – The Alan Price Set

11 November – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers

14 November – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

15 November – The Squires (this might be Tom Jones’ backing band)

16 November – Alan Elsdon (Tuesday night)

17 November – Wilson Pickett (with backing band)

The Riot Squad may also have played on 17 November but needs confirmation

18 November – Marshall Scott Etc

21 November – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

22 November – The End of Part One

23 November – Monty Sunshine (Tuesday night)

24 November – The Graham Bond Organisation

25 November – The Spectres (evolved into Status Quo)

28 November – The Mike Cotton Sound

29 November – The Minor Birds

30 November – Terry Lightfoot (Tuesday night)

1 December – Steampacket

2 December – The Prowlers

5 December – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

6 December – The Kingbeats

7 December – The Back O’Town Syncopants (Tuesday night)

8 December – Major Lance

9 December – The Squires (Tom Jones’ backing band?)

12 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

13 December – The Shylos

14 December – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night)

15 December – The Spencer Davis Group

16 December – The Board Walkers

19 December – The Paramounts

20 December – The Name

21 December – Kenny Ball (Tuesday night)

22 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

23 December – The Alex Lane Group

24 December – The Train (aka Moon’s Train) and The Changing Times (Boyfriend magazine has The Paramounts on this date)

26 December – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

27 December – K N Star & The Ricochets

28 December – Eric Silk (Tuesday night)

29 December – Ronnie Jones (& The Blue Jays)

30 December – The Habits

Clive Chase, bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres notes in his diary that his group played here on 30 December

1966

Judging by the gigs below, rock artists performed on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Jazz musicians played on Tuesdays.

The gigs are all from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.

2 January – The Train (aka Moon’s Train)

3 January – The Partisans

3 January – Alex Welsh (Tuesday night)

5 January – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

6 January – Victor Brox Blues Band

9 January – The Mike Cotton Sound

10 January – The Deck Hands

11 January – Terry Lightfoot (Tuesday night)

12 January – Steampacket

13 January – The Minor Birds

16 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

17 January – The Disciples

18 January – Monty Sunshine (Tuesday night)

19 January – Lee Dorsey (with The Krew backing?)

20 January – The Showtimers

23 January – The Alan Price Set

24 January – The Way

25 January – Alan Elsdon (Tuesday night)

26 January – The Mark Leeman Five

27 January – KN Starr & The Ricochets

29 January – David Bowie & The Lower Third (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)

30 January – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

31 January – The Breed (South East London Mercury)

1 February – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

2 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)

3 February – The Alex Lane Group

6 February – The Untamed (South East London Mercury)

7 February – The Soul System (South East London Mercury)

8 February – The Back O’Town Syncopaters (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

9 February – The Action

South East London Mercury lists Crispian St. Peters for 9 February

10 February – The Board Walkers (South East London Mercury)

13 February – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)

14 February – The Name (South East London Mercury)

15 February – Eric Silk & The Southern Jazz Band (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

16 February – The Soul Show (according to Record Mirror this was Elkie Brooks, Keith Powell, The Marionettes and The Excels) (South East London Mercury)

17 February – The Deck Hands (South East London Mercury)

20 February – The Loose Ends

21 February – The Mixed Feelings

22 February – Spencer’s Washboard Kings (Tuesday night)

23 February – The Pretty Things

24 February – The Prowlers

27 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)

28 February – L Henderson’s Soul Band (South East London Mercury)

1 March – Chris Barber (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

2 March – The Action (South East London Mercury)

3 March – The Subjects (South East London Mercury)

6 March – The VIPs (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Train (aka Moon’s Train for 6 March)

7 March – The In-Action

8 March – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

9 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)

10 March – The Alex Lane Group

12 March – Them (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)

13 March – The Alan Price Set (South East London Mercury)

14 March – System Four (South East London Mercury)

15 March – Alan Elsdon (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists Monty Sunshine for 15 March

16 March – The Loose Ends

20 March – St Louis Union (South East London Mercury)

21 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)

22 March – Kenny Ball (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

23 March – Gary Farr & The T-Bones

24 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Objects for 24 March

26 March – The Kinks (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)

27 March – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (South East London Mercury)

28 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Name for 28 March

29 March – Mike Daniels (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

30 March – The Action (South East London Mercury)

31 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)

3 April – The Graham Bond Organisation

4 April – The Keys

5 April – The Back O’Town Syncopants (Tuesday night)

6 April – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

7 April – Earl Henderson Soul Band

10 April – The Shevelles (South East London Mercury)

11 April – Group night (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Scuttlebugs for 11 April

12 April – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

13 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

14 April – Rachel’s Revenge (South East London Mercury)

16 April – The Candles (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)

17 April – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

18 April – Group night (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists John Brown’s Bodies for 18 April

19 April – Brian Green (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

20 April – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds (South East London Mercury)

21 April – Deacon Lewis and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (South East London Mercury)

24 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)

25 April – The Kind (South East London Mercury)

26 April – Monty’s Sunshine (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

27 April – Steampacket (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Paramounts on 27 April

28 April – Rachel’s Revenge (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Board Walkers on 28 April

1 May – The Kinks (South East London Mercury)

2 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)

3 May – Eric Silk & His Southern Jazz Band (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

4 May – The Dixie Cups with Alvin Robinson (South East London Mercury)

5 May – The Prowlers (South East London Mercury)

7 May – Earl Henderson’s Soul Band and The Coffee Set (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)

8 May – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

9 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)

10 May – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

11 May – The T-Bones (Gary Farr’s band) (South East London Mercury)

12 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)

14 May – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Saturday night) (Nick Simper’s diary)

15 May – The Shevelles (South East London Mercury)

16 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Kenetis on 16 May

17 May – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

18 May – Steampacket (South East London Mercury)

19 May – The Board Walkers (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists John Brown’s Bodies for 19 May but this could actually refer to the following Thursday, 26 May

22 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (South East London Mercury)

23 May – C-Jam Blues (South East London Mercury)

23 May – The Temperance Seven (South East London Mercury)

24 May – Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound (South East London Mercury)

26 May – John Brown’s Bodies (South East London Mercury)

29 May – The Bo Street Runners (South East London Mercury)

30 May – Miss Named (South East London Mercury)

31 May – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

1 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)

2 June – Five Steps Beyond (South East London Mercury)

5 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)

6 June – Dawn & The Rising Sons (South East London Mercury)

7 June – Back O’Town Syncopaters (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

8 June – Roy C (South East London Mercury)

9 June – In-Action (South East London Mercury)

12 June – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

13 June – Luther Morgan Relationship (South East London Mercury)

14 June – Charlie Galbraith’s All Stars (South East London Mercury)

15 June – The Moody Blues (South East London Mercury)

16 June – Sammy Samwell’s Record Show (South East London Mercury)

19 June – Steampacket (South East London Mercury)

20 June – The Midnites (South East London Mercury)

21 June – Brian Green’s New Orleans Stompers (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)

22 June – The Action (South East London Mercury)

23 June – Sammy Samwell Record Show (South East London Mercury)

26 June – The Shotgun Express (South East London Mercury)

27 June – The Bo-Men (South East London Mercury)

28 June – The Eyes (South East London Mercury)

29 June – The Yardbirds (South East London Mercury)

3 July – missing entry

4 July – The Classics (South East London Mercury)

6 July – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

Melody Maker lists The Squires (Tom Jones’ band?) for 6 July. Beat Instrumental meanwhile lists Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

7 July – Sammy Samwell Record Show (South East London Mercury)

10 July – The Downliners Sect (South East London Mercury)

11 July – The Outcasts (South East London Mercury)

13 July – The Loose Ends and The Good Things (South East London Mercury)

14 July – Raymond Hayes Record Show (South East London Mercury)

17 July – George Bean & Loopy’s Lot (South East London Mercury)

18 July – The Borough of Bedrock (South East London Mercury)

20 July – The Loose Ends and The Squires (South East London Mercury)

Beat Instrumental lists Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band for 20 July

21 July – missing entry

24 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)

25 July – The Kind (South East London Mercury)

27 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)

Fabulous 208 lists The Loose Ends on 27 July

28 July – Micket Nut Record Show (South East London Mercury)

31 July – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (South East London Mercury)

1 August – Group and records (South East London Mercury)

3 August – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (South East London Mercury)

4 August – Micket Nut Record Show (South East London Mercury)

7 August – The Tribe (South East London Mercury)

8 August – Lee Hawkins Four (South East London Mercury)

10 August – The VIPs (South East London Mercury)

11 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

12 August – Cream (South East London Mercury)

14 August – The Raisins (South East London Mercury)

Fabulous 208 lists The Downliners Sect for 14 August

15 August – Group and records (South East London Mercury)

17 August – The Alan Price Set (South East London Mercury)

18 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

21 August – The Subjects (South East London Mercury)

22 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

24 August – The Creation (South East London Mercury)

25 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

28 August – Wynder K Frog (South East London Mercury)

29 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

30 August – The Shotgun Express (South East London Mercury)

31 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

4 September – Lee Hawkins Group (South East London Mercury)

5 August – Records (South East London Mercury)

7 September – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (South East London Mercury)

8 September – Records (South East London Mercury)

Missing some entries for the rest of September. This is what I do have:

14 September – The Alan Bown Set and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

18 September – The Amboy Dukes (South East London Mercury)

19 September – Ray Browns’ record show (South East London Mercury)

21 September – The VIPs (South East London Mercury)

22 September – Records (South East London Mercury)

25 September – The Combine (South East London Mercury)

26 September – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

28 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (South East London Mercury)

2 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)

3 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

5 October – The Herd (South East London Mercury)

6 October – Records (South East London Mercury)

9 October – Felders Orioles (South East London Mercury)

10 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

12 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (South East London Mercury)

13 October – Records (South East London Mercury)

16 October – Unit Four Plus 2 (South East London Mercury)

17 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

19 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Bobby & The Crims (South East London Mercury)

20 October – Records (South East London Mercury)

23 October – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

24 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

26 October – The Crying Shames (South East London Mercury)

27 October – Records (South East London Mercury)

30 October – The Searchers (South East London Mercury)

31 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

2 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (South East London Mercury)

3 November – missing entry

5 November – The Tribe (South East London Mercury)

7 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

9 November – missing entry

10 November – missing entry

13 November – The Fortunes (South East London Mercury)

14 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

16 November – The Graham Bond Organisation (South East London Mercury)

17 November – missing entry

20 November – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

21 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

23 November – The Herd (South East London Mercury)

24 November – missing entry

27 November – The Good Thing (South East London Mercury)

28 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

30 November – The Herd (South East London Mercury)

1 December – Records (South East London Mercury)

4 December – Lee Hawkins Group (South East London Mercury)

5 December – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

7 December – The Shotgun Express (South East London Mercury)

8 December – missing entry

11 December – missing entry

12 December – missing entry

14 December – Cream (Christopher’s Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

15 December – Records (South East London Mercury)

18 December – EL Henderson’s Soul Band (South East London Mercury)

19 December – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)

21 December – Eric Burdon & The Animals (South East London Mercury)

22 December – Records (South East London Mercury)

24 December – The Outrage and The New Jump Band (South East London Mercury)

26 December – The New Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

28 December – Long John Baldry and Bluesology (South East London Mercury)

29 December – Records (South East London Mercury)

1967

Judging by the gigs below, rock artists performed on Sundays and Wednesdays with gigs on other days occasionally.

I have very few gigs for 1967 so would welcome any additions.

1 January – Brian Something and The What’s Its (South East London Mercury)

4 January – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Marmalade Skies website)

15 January – The New Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

18 January – The Coloured Raisins (South East London Mercury)

20 January – The Motivation (Bognor Regis version) (Friday night) (Bryan Stevens’ gig diary)

25 January – Georgie Fame & Blue Fames and The Little Joe Set (South East London Mercury)

8 February – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Marmalade Skies website)

22 February – Cream (Marmalade Skies website)

1 March – The Action (South East London Mercury)

8 March – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

22 March – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (South East London Mercury)

19 April – Pink Floyd (Marmalade Skies website)

26 April – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (South East London Mercury)

29 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (with Peter Green) and The Breed (Derya Ataker’s recollections/Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

3 May – The Move (Melody Maker)

10 May – Jeff Beck Group (South East London Mercury)

17 May – Prince Buster & The Bees (Melody Maker)

24 May 1967 – PP Arnold & The Nice (South East London Mercury)

24 May – Pink Floyd (Marmalade Skies website)

27 May – The Sassenachs and The New Breed (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)

31 May – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)

Thanks to Rolf Hannett for help with Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental

Categories: England, London

Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

November 19, 2014 Nick Warburton 88 Comments

The Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, southeast London was a popular live music venue during the 1960s. I’ve started to compile a list of artists that performed there and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as any memories of the pub. This is an incomplete listing

1964

12 April – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

17 May – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

31 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

21 June – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

5 July – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

23 August – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

12 September – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

18 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

29 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

6 December – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

1965

All of the listings below for 1965 are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

Peter Hicks, who was a member of The Down & Outs, has a newspaper clipping of his band in the scrapbook section of his website which notes that the band opened for The Animals, The Mark Leeman Five and The Moody Blues at this venue (most likely 1965).

3 January – The Graham Bond Organisation

10 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

17 January – Tony Knight’s Chessmen

24 January – The Downliners Sect

31 January – The Spencer Davis Group

7 February – The Moody Blues

14 February – The Animals

21 February – The Graham Bond Organisation with The Epitaph Soul Band (confirmed by article in Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

28 February – Buddy Guy with Rod Stewart and The Soul Agents (with Rod Stewart)

7 March – The Mark Leeman Five

14 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

21 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

28 March – The Downliners Sect

4 April – The Moody Blues

The Just Blues appeared on one occasion when The Moody Blues played here (see John Farrier’s comment below)

11 April – Long John Baldry

18 April – Alex Harvey Soul Band

25 April – The Graham Bond Organisation

2 May – The Five Dimensions and The Loose Ends

9 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

16 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

23 May – Memphis Slim and Alex Harvey Soul Band

30 May – The Mark Leeman Five

6 June – Jack Dupree with The Mike Cotton Sound

13 June – The Graham Bond Organisation

20 June – The Artwoods

19 June – Jazz & Blues Festival with Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers, Epitaph Soul Band and The Loose Ends (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times, 25 June 1965, page 12

27 June – The Five Dimensions

4 July – Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart

11 July – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

18 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 July – The Spencer Davis Group and The Epitaphs Soul Band

The Epitaphs Soul Band featured Mick Fletcher on keyboards who went on to The New Generation (briefly Jimmy Cliff’s backing band), The Hamilton Movement (1966-1967) and The Amboy Dukes (1969-1970).

Earlier in their career, guitarist Del Grace was a member. He went on to The Big Wheel before joining Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Andy Clark also played sax with them in late 1965 before switching to organ and joining The Big Wheel in spring 1966. He later played with The Fenmen (aka Kindness), Sam Gopal, VAMP and Clark-Hutchinson among others.

1 August – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones

8 August – Alex Harvey Soul Band

15 August – The Graham Bond Organisation

22 August – The Blond Bombshell (from the US)

29 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

5 September – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

12 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

19 September – Steampacket

26 September – The Graham Bond Organisation

3 October – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

10 October – Alex Harvey Soul Band

17 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

24 October – The Spencer Davis Group

31 October – T-Bone Walker

7 November – Steampacket

14 November – The Graham Bond Organisation

21 November – The Shevelles

28 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

5 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

12 December – missing

19 December – missing

26 December – missing

1966

All of the listings below for 1966 are from South East London Mercury unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

2 January – missing

9 January – The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)

16 January – missing

23 January – missing

30 January – The Spencer Davis Group

6 February – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band

13 February – The Graham Bond Organisation

The Big Wheel Soul Band opened for Graham Bond’s group at some point

20 February – missing

27 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

6 March – The Action

13 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

20 March – Melody Maker notes “Great blues singer from the US” (could this be John Lee Hooker?)

27 March – Steampacket

3 April – missing

10 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 April – Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band

24 April – The Moody Blues

1 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

8 May – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

15 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

22 May – missing

29 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

5 June – The Downliners Sect

12 June – Steampacket

19 June – The Shotgun Express

26 June – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror)

3 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Eric Silk’s Stompers

10 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

24 July – The Alan Price Set (Fabulous 208 and Record Mirror)

30 July – The Graham Bond Organisation

7 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

14 August – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

21 August – The Shotgun Express

28 August – missing

4 September – The Moody Blues

11 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

18 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

2 October – The Shevelles

9 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

16 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

23 October – The Mike Cotton Sound

30 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

6 November – missing

13 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

20 November – The Downliners Sect

27 November – Guy Darrell

4 December – missing

11 December – Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

18 December – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

Fabulous 208 has Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band on 18 December

24 December – Mike Cotton Sound with support

1967

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz.

I have listed the sources next to the entries. There are indications from some of the dates below that rock gigs occasionally happened on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well.

1 January – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

8 January – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

15 January – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

22 January – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker)

29 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

5 February – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

12 February – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

19 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

26 February – Long John Baldry with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

5 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

12 March – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

14 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

19 March – Cliff Bennett’s Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

26 March – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

2 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

9 April – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

16 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

23 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

25 April – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

30 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

7 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)

14 May – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Melody Maker)

21 May – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

28 May – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

30 May – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

4 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary) South East London Mercury has The Coloured Raisins

11 June – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

2 July – The Coloured Raisins with Honey Darling and Earl Green (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 July – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 July – Mike Cotton with Lucas (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 July – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

6 August – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology) (Phil Mackie’s diary)

13 August – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

20 August – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

27 August – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

3 September – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 September – Freddie Mack Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

1 October – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

8 October – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 October – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

22 October – Ben E King (Phil Mackie’s diary)

29 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

4 November – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

7 November – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

12 November – Dantalion’s Chariot (Phil Mackie’s diary)

19 November – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

26 November – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

3 December – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 December – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 December – Peter’s Green Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 December – The Shevelles and Terry Lightfoot Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 December – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set and Alan Elsdon’s Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

1968

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz. I have listed the sources next to the entries.

7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

21 January – The Freddie Mack Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Phil Mackie’s diary)

4 February – The Cliff Bennett Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

11 February – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 February – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

3 March – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 March – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 March – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 March – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 March – The Impressions (Phil Mackie’s diary)

7 April – The Jeff Beck Group featuring Rod Stewart (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 April – The Piccadilly Six (Swiss band) (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

21 April – The Showstoppers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 April – The Cliff Bennett Band

5 May – Spooky Tooth (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 May – The Counts (Melody Maker – this was a Thursday)

12 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 May – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

19 May – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 May – The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

26 May – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

2 June – Lucas with The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 June – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 June – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers with The Satin Dolls (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 June – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

30 June – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

7 July – Diane Ferraz & The Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

14 July – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker)

21 July – Tony Gregory & The Counts (Melody Maker)

28 July – Traffic (Melody Maker)

4 August – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

11 August – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

18 August – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

25 August – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1 September – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

8 September – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker)

15 September – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

22 September – Timebox (Melody Maker)

29 September – The Drifters (Melody Maker)

6 October – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

12 October – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker – this is a Saturday)

20 October – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

27 October – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

3 November – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

10 November – Inez and Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)

17 November – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

24 November – Ferris Wheel and Nepenthe (Melody Maker)

1 December – Garnet Mimms with Village Green (Melody Maker)

2 December – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

8 December – Bandwagon (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

10 December – Simon K & The Meantimers and Olaf Grumps Kneed (Melody Maker/South East London Mercury – this was a Tuesday)

15 December – Timebox (Melody Maker)

22 December – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

28 December – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1969

Judging by the gigs below, rock bands continued to play on Sundays with occasional gigs on other days of the week.

5 January – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

12 January – Root and Jenny Jackson (Melody Maker)

19 January – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

26 January – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

2 February – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

South East London Mercury has The Nice not Spooky Tooth

9 February – Happy Magazine (Melody Maker)

16 February – The Fantastics (Fabulous 208)

Melody Maker has Timebox for the 16 February gig as does South East London Mercury

23 February – Freddie King and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)

Martin Coller got in touch and noted that The Nice were billed to play on 23 February according to Martyn Hanson’s book “Hang on To Dream: The Story of The Nice”.

2 March – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

9 March – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker)

16 March – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

23 March – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

30 March – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

2 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker – this was a Wednesday)

6 April – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

13 April – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)

20 April – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 April – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

4 May – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

11 May – Toast (Melody Maker)

18 May – Howlin’ Wolf (Melody Maker)

25 May – The Riot Squad (Melody Maker)

1 June – No listing in Melody Maker

8 June – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

15 June – John Lee Hooker with The John Dummer Blues Band (Melody Maker)

22 June – Consortium (Melody Maker)

29 June – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

6 July – Timebox (Melody Maker)

13 July – The Platters (Melody Maker)

20 July – The Joyce Bond Show (Melody Maker)

27 July – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

3 August – The Brian Auger Trinity (Time Out)

10 August – Trapeze (Melody Maker)

17 August – The Globe Show (Melody Maker)

24 August – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

31 August – Timebox (Melody Maker)

7 September – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

14 September – The Cliff Bennett Show (Melody Maker)

21 September – Linda Lewis and Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

28 September – The Dave Amboy Big Band (Melody Maker)

5 October – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)

12 October – Zoot Money (Melody Maker)

19 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)

25 October – The Brian Auger Trinity (Melody Maker)

2 November – Marv Johnson (Melody Maker)

9 November – Timebox (Melody Maker)

16 November – Freddie King (Melody Maker)

23 November – No entry in Melody Maker

30 November – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

7 December – The Dave Amboy Band (aka The Amboy Dukes) (Melody Maker and Keith Guster’s diary)

According to Keith Guster, this was the reformed version featuring Keith Guster and Tago Byers from The Fleur De Lys and former Hamilton Movement keyboard player Mick Fletcher.

14 December – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

16 December – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

21 December – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

28 December – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)

1970

8 February – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

27 September – Black Widow and Amazing Grace (Poster from Roy Saxby)

4 October – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

11 October – Caravan (Poster from Roy Saxby)

18 October – Chicken Shack (Poster from Roy Saxby)

25 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Poster from Roy Saxby)

1 November – Blodwyn Pig (Poster from Roy Saxby)

6 December – The Faces featuring Rod Stewart with Daniels Band (Poster from Roy Saxby)

13 December – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

20 December – Toe Fat with Albuquerque-Riccoti (Poster from Roy Saxby)

24 December – The Greatest Show on Earth with Tony Simon’s Progressive Show (Poster from Roy Saxby)

27 December – Argent (Poster from Roy Saxby)

31 December – Patto (Poster from Roy Saxby)

Categories: England, London

The Scotch of St James, 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair

November 18, 2014 Nick Warburton 12 Comments

Listing for October-November 1967. See below

The Scotch of St James, situated at 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair, London was a notable music venue in the 1960s and a popular hang out for rock musicians, notably The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Jimi Hendrix also made his first UK appearance at the Scotch in September 1966.

The Scotch of St James was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find confirmed gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue/posters of advertised gigs/photos of bands who appeared there (all credited accordingly).

This exclusive Mayfair establishment was primarily a late night members club with gambling but did put on live music occasionally (see The Stormsville Shakers gigs immediately below). It was officially opened as a late night club offering regular live music from 14 July 1965.

1965

Drummer Tony Richard says that his band The Fetish Crowd played at the Scotch of St James, which would have been the 1965-1966 period.

Singer James Nairn (aka James Royal) notes that his bands James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set both performed at the club.

7 May (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

Phillip Goodhand-Tait kept diaries from 1961 onward and notes that his band The Stormsville Shakers were paid to play the Scotch on the above date. They arrived at 7.30pm and finished at 2am on the Saturday morning after playing three spots of 35 minutes. They were re-booked at the Scotch for the two dates below.

14 May (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 May (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

According to London Life magazine’s 9-15 October issue, The Marionettes were the resident band during this week. They were also listed for 16-22 October, 23-29 October and 30 October-5 November.

22 October (Friday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

The Krew (who backed Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo) played at the Scotch of St James around the middle-to-end of the first week of November, according to keyboardist Alan Reeves’ book. The Krew featured sax player Howie Casey who later did sessions for Paul McCartney & Wings.

9 November (Tuesday) – Wilson Pickett (backed either by The Links or The Maroons) with The Krew (Alan Reeves’s book Sex, Booze & Blues)

Bruno Ceriotti says that Wilson Pickett’s guitarist Jimmy Owen was joined by three members of The Animals.

3 December/4 December (Friday/Saturday) – The Krew (an advert in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette has the band playing at Kirklevington Country Club on Sunday, 5 December and says the band came direct from the Scotch Club)

8 December (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Record Mirror)

21 December (Tuesday) – Joe Tex (Melody Maker)

Record Mirror lists the Joe Tex gig as 16 December.

1966

Sometime during January 1966, The Krew backed US soul singer Fontella Bass for one night, according to Alan Reeves’s book Sex, Booze & Blues.

5 January (Wednesday) – Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

Bluesology’s keyboard player was Reg Dwight, who became famous as Elton John.

11 January (Tuesday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)

3 February (Thursday) – Stevie Wonder (probably backed by The Sidewinders) (Melody Maker)

According to an advert in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette for a show at the Kirklevington Country Club on 13 February, it says The Gass were residents at the Scotch of St James around this time.

According to the South East London Mercury, The Loose Ends began playing at the Scotch of St James three times a week for three months in the week starting 21 February (see clipping above).

The Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser lists a gig for The Manchester Playboys at the Club Creole in Wilmslow, Cheshire on 25 February 1966 and says the band are direct from the Scotch of St James.

17 March (Thursday) – Irma Thomas with The Sons of Adam (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/)

30 March (Wednesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary)

Melody Maker and Record Mirror both report that Martha & The Vandellas played at the Scotch of St James on 30 March.

1 April (Friday) – Episode Six (audition) (Brian Long’s research)

According to London Life magazine from 14-20 May, the three resident bands for this week were The VIPs, Gass and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)

20 May (Friday) – Ben E King (London Life magazine)

According to London Life magazine for the week 28 May to 3 June, the three resident bands for this week were The VIPs, Gass and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)

The same magazine notes that the three resident bands for the week 11-17 June were The VIPs, The Loose Ends and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)

26 June (Sunday) – The Loose Ends (Fabulous 208)

This may be July not June so needs confirmation. However, The Loose Ends played in Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday, 25 June according to the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette and the advert notes they came from the Scotch of St James so it’s possible they played the week leading up to 25 June.

7 July (Thursday) – Norma Tanega (Record Mirror)

26 July (Tuesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

29 July (Friday) – Joe Tex (London Life magazine)

According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends, together with The VIPs and The Paramounts were the three resident bands playing at the Scotch of St James during the week 30 July to 5 August.

10 August (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

Guster says that Alan Price invited him to join his band at this gig.

The Westminster & Pimlico News’ 12 August 1966 issue notes that Gass played the club 6-7 nights a week around this time.

11 September (Sunday) – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s research: http://www.badfingerlibrary.com/)

18 September (Sunday) – The Vibrations (needs source and confirmation but probably Melody Maker)

22 September (Thursday) – Jimi Hendrix solo (needs source and confirmation)

Apparently on the evening he’d arrived in the UK, Jimi Hendrix played a couple of songs as a solo act at the club.

23 September (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

24 September (Saturday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

26 September (Monday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

Jimi Hendrix sat in with The VIPs on 26 September – see Terry Ellis comment in the comments section below.

27 September (Tuesday) – The VIPs (needs confirmation)

28 September (Wednesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

Guitarist Vic Briggs says that Chas Chandler and Jimi Hendrix came into the Scotch of St James and sat in with the band. Brian Auger invited the American guitarist to sit in with the band at Blaises the following night, 29 September.

30 September (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

The Derby Evening Telegraph’s 1 October 1966 issue notes that Pepper’s Machine played the club recently.

3 October (Monday) – The Raylettes (London Life magazine)

7 October (Friday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)

Robin Trower had left The Paramounts in late June/early July and formed The Jamm, so Martin Shaw (no relation to the actor) was on lead guitar.

8 October (Saturday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)

13 October (Thursday) – The Trend (London Life magazine)

14 October (Friday) – The Trend (London Life magazine)

15 October (Saturday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

17 October (Monday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

18 October (Tuesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

19 October (Wednesday) – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jams with Cream (needs source and confirmation)

It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Scotch of St James on 19 October (the alternative location was the Cromwellian). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream were playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham on this day.

According to London Life magazine, Tony & The Defenders played at the Scotch of St James during the week 22-28 October.

24 October (Monday) – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Guests) (London Life magazine)

25 October (Tuesday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (band’s debut as private showcase at the venue) (Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scotch_of_St._James)

29 October (Saturday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)

This was one of the band’s final gigs before splitting in November 1966. Gary Brooker formed Procol Harum the following spring.

31 October (Monday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (London Life magazine)

1 November (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (London Life magazine)

2 November (Wednesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

3 November (Thursday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

4 November (Friday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

5 November (Saturday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

11 November (Friday) – Ben E King (London Life magazine)

18 November (Friday) – The Impressions (London Life magazine)

The Impressions featured future soul star Curtis Mayfield.

According to Disc & Music Echo on 26 November, Deep Feeling made their debut at the Scotch of St James around the week starting 21 November. Chris Curtis, Giorgio Gomelsky, Robert Stigwood, Speedy Acquaye and Beryl Marsden were among the guests.

According to Melody Maker, Bobby Darin sat in with Deep Feeling around early-to-mid December and played the drums.

London Life magazine reports that The Checkmates played at the Scotch of St James during the week 3-9 December.

The Manchester Independent notes that Manchester band The Powerhouse played at the venue during December.

7 December (Wednesday) – The Vibrations (London Life magazine)

8 December (Thursday) – The Young Rascals (Disc & Music Echo)

The magazine reports that Paul McCartney, Chas Chandler, Eric Burdon, Keith Moon, Brian Epstein and Bill Wyman are among the guests.

13 December (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

14 December (Wednesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

15 December (Thursday) – Bobby Hebb (Record Mirror)

The magazine says that Bobby Hebb came on at 1am. This is confirmed by London Life magazine, which notes the 14 December so it looks like Hebb came on stage after The Brian Auger Trinity had finished. Future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper was in his backing band.

19 December (Monday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

20 December (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

21 December (Wednesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

22 December (Thursday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

23 December (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

24 December (Saturday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (London Life magazine)

28 December (Wednesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

29 December (Thursday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

31 December (Saturday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Disc & Music Echo and London Life magazine)

1967

Guitarist Doug Ayers says that The All Night Workers played at the Scotch of St James (most likely in early 1967).

Jim Cregan, guitarist with Blossom Toes, remembers playing at the club and The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were there on the same night to catch his band performing.

Drummer Chris Hunt says The Good Time Losers played the club in the first half of 1967.

Tony Glyde remembers playing at the Scotch of St James with Simon K & The Meantimers in 1967-1968.

2 February (Thursday) – Edwin Starr (Evening Standard)

The Loose Ends were playing at the venue in late March/early April when the Stax-Volt show tour came in. This is where Otis Redding picked up singers Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and took them back to the US to record tracks at Fame Studios during June.

23 April (Sunday) – The Wages of Sin (Melody Maker)

28 April (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

Drummer Phil Wainman, who went on to produce The Sweet, remembers playing the club in May 1967 with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers.

Keyboard player Mick Ketley says The Motivation/Penny Peeps played at the Scotch of St James on two occasions which would have been from May 1967 onwards.

7 May (Sunday) – The Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

The Loose Ends were performing at the Scotch of St James in early June 1967 when former Ram Jam guitarist Pete Gage brought singer Kenny Bernard into see the musicians. This led to the formation of Cats Pyjamas with some of the group members.

16 June (Friday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

The Manchester Playboys performed at the Scotch of St James and July seems the most likely period as they were in London gigging. Also Peter Simensky, who had joined the band recently, was a member at the time and he recalls singer Billie Davis working at the Scotch at the time.

Frank Torpey, who was lead guitarist with London band, The Tribe (and would go on to become the original lead guitarist in The Sweet), says that when the group was playing regular Saturday nights at the Marquee in Wardour Street between July-September, the Marquee’s owner John Gee would get a call from the Scotch of St James asking what band was on and would they like to double up? He says The Tribe always said yes as it was a great top up. Torpey adds that they never had another band on with them. He thinks they may have played at the Scotch maybe three or four times.

It sounds like The Tribe may have played the Scotch in the early hours of the Sunday morning after finishing up at the Marquee but this would need confirmation.

This insight is interesting as it might mean other groups that played the Marquee went on and played the Scotch of St James after finishing up.

1 July (Saturday) – The Tribe (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)

The Tribe (which changed name to The Dream in late August 1967) played at the Marquee every Saturday from 1 July to 30 September according to Tony Bacon’s excellent book on the London music scene and its Marquee listings, so it’s impossible to know what Saturday evenings/early Sunday mornings The Tribe went on to play at the Scotch of St James afterwards. It’s also quite possible that the other band sharing the billing at the Marquee with The Tribe may have been asked as well (see Torpey’s recollections above).

7 July (Friday) – Vince Edwards (Fabulous 208)

8 July (Saturday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)

1 August (Tuesday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)

Timebox played at the Scotch of St James during August 1967. They had a Tuesday night gig at the Marquee so possibly played afterwards. Former Felders Orioles drummer John Halsey advertised in Melody Maker for a new band on Thursday, 17 August and auditioned with Timebox shortly afterwards at the Scotch.

29 August (Tuesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)

According to the poster below for the Gloucester YMCA, The Official Receivers played at the Scotch of St James around October 1967.

30 October (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

31 October (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website and Disc & Music Echo)

1 November (Wednesday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website – see above)

2 November (Thursday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

3 November (Friday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

4 November (Saturday) – Mud (Melody Maker)

6 November (Monday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

7 November (Tuesday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

8 November (Wednesday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

9 November (Thursday) – Ben E King (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

10 November (Friday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

11 November (Saturday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

13 November (Monday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

14 November (Tuesday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

15 November (Wednesday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

16 November (Thursday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

17 November (Friday) – Mud (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

18 November (Saturday) – Mud (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

20 November (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

21 November (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

22 November (Wednesday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

23 November (Thursday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

24 November (Friday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

25 November (Saturday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

27 November (Monday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

28 November (Tuesday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

29 November (Wednesday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

30 November (Thursday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

30 December (Saturday) – Kaleidoscope (Melody Maker)

1968

Iain Pitwell, Brian Mansell and Geoff Glover confirm that The All Night Workers played at the Scotch of St James regularly during the 1968-1969 period.

Mo Umansky says his band Mr Mo’s Messengers played at the venue, most likely in 1968.

26 January (Friday) – The Magic Roundabout (audition) (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)

3 February (Saturday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

6 February (Tuesday) – James & Bobby Purify (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

8 February (Thursday) – Edwin Starr (New Musical Express)

According to Melody Maker, Rupert’s People played at the Scotch of St James around the week starting 19 February.

27 February (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker)

According to Melbourne music magazine, Go-Set, Australian band The Groop played the Scotch of St James between early March and mid-April.

8 March (Friday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

23 March (Saturday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

4 April (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

1 May (Wednesday) – Ike & Tina Turner and Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

2 May (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

9 May (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

16 May (Thursday) – Edwin Starr & The State Express (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

20 May (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

5 June (Tuesday) – The Coasters (New Musical Express)

17 June (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

18 June (Tuesday) – Ruby & The Romantics (New Musical Express)

30 June (Sunday) – The Crystals (New Musical Express)

16 July (Tuesday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

20 July (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

3 August (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

5 August (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

6 August (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

Rose’s gig was cancelled.

13 August (Tuesday) – Elmer Gantry (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

19 August (Monday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

21 August (Wednesday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

22 August (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

26 August (Monday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

7 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

10 September (Tuesday) – Ben E King (New Musical Express)

14 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

27 September (Friday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

28 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

16 October (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

The New Musical Express lists Brook Benton for the 16 October.

12 November (Tuesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

18 November (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

28 November (Thursday) – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker)

12 December (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

17 December (Tuesday) – Bandwagon (New Musical Express)

18 December (Wednesday) – The Barrier (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

1969

Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott confirms that Gass played the Scotch of St James during the 1969-1970 period.

21 January (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

31 January (Friday) – The N’ Betweens (later became Slade) (Don Powell’s website)

24 February (Monday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker)

New Musical Express reports that Ben E King is backed by Chris Shakespeare Globe Show for his UK tour in February 1969.

10 March (Monday) – The Tymes (Melody Maker)

29 March (Saturday) – Ben E King (Time Out)

14 April (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Fabulous 208)

21 April (Monday) – Turnstyle and Steamhammer (Fabulous 208)

19 May (Monday) – Bob & Earl (John Warburg research)

16 June (Monday) – Yes (Peter Banks website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

24 June (Tuesday) – Girl Talk (Melody Maker)

21 July (Monday) – Jimmy Ruffin with Sweet Blindness (New Musical Express)

25 August (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Time Out)

1 September (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

4 September (Thursday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

8 September (Monday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

9 September (Tuesday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

11 September (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

1970

28 January (Wednesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)

28 October (Wednesday) – Tear Gas (Melody Maker)

29 October (Thursday) – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

5 November (Thursday) – Legend (Melody Maker)

6 November (Friday) – Charge (Melody Maker)

7 November (Saturday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

8 November (Sunday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)

9 November (Monday) – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

Ted Hare’s gig diary for bands he managed, including Calum Bryce, have this group listed at the Scotch of St James on 10 November not the 9 November so possible there is a mistake here.

10 November (Tuesday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)

12 November (Thursday) – Fairfield Parlour (Melody Maker)

13 November (Friday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

14 November (Saturday) – Renea (Melody Maker)

16 November (Monday) – UFO (Melody Maker)

17 November (Tuesday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)

18 November (Wednesday) – Bubastis (Melody Maker)

19 November (Thursday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

20 November (Friday) – Mataya (Melody Maker)

23 November (Monday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

24 November (Tuesday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)

25 November (Wednesday) – Aquila (Melody Maker)

26 November (Thursday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)

27 November (Friday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

30 November (Monday) – Nick Twilley (Melody Maker)

1 December (Tuesday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)

2 December (Wednesday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

1971

15 April (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)

6 May (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)

Garage Hangover

Tag Archives: The Loose Ends

400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon

Berry Window & The Movements

The Marmalade gigs 1966-1970

The Fenmen’s gigs 1964-1967

Cats Pyjamas

Simon K & The Meantimers

Big Wheel

Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley Hill, southeast London

Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

The Scotch of St James, 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair

The site for '60s garage bands since 2004