Tag Archives: The Soul Agents

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: England, Greenford, London

Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London gigs 1966-1968

April 13, 2020 Nick Warburton 24 Comments

August 1966 listing. Photo: Melody Maker

Located on Allendale Road in Greenford (sometimes billed as Sudbury or Wembley) in northwest London, the Starlite Ballroom was a significant music venue in the UK during the early-to-late 1960s. Peter Griffin booked artists for the venue, together with the Starlight Ballroom in Crawley, West Sussex.

Melody Maker advertised this venue weekly during 1966 and 1967. This doesn’t mean, however, that the advertised artists definitely appeared. It’s quite possible that some acts may have been replaced at the last minute. All of the listings below are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the listings below, gigs took place on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

1966

Missing some listings from January to late May

1 January – The Fenmen and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

16 January – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)

21 January – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

22 January – The Drifters (Record Mirror)

23 January – The Alan Bown Set and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s diary)

5 February – Stevie Wonder (backed by The Sidewinders?) with The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

13 February – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

18 February – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

27 February – The Moody Blues and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary) Beat Instrumental lists The Who for this date as well

11 March – The Small Faces (Record Mirror)

23 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Beat Instrumental)

25 March – Wilson Pickett and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

1 April – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Record Mirror)

22 April – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

26 April – The Mindbenders (Beat Instrumental)

29 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)

6 May – Lee Dorsey and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s diary)

15 May – The Small Faces (Record Mirror)

27 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

28 May – The Soul Agents

29 May – The Fenmen and The Symbols

Missing listings for 3, 4 and 5 June

5 June – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and Jean & The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s diary)

10 June – The Quiet Five and The Mark Four

11 June – The Ram Jam (most likely Geno Washington’s band) and The James Royal Set

12 June – The Yardbirds

Dave Brogden’s diary confirms that The Statesides supported The Yardbirds on this date

17 June – Roy C

Dave Brogden’s diary confirms that The Statesides supported Roy C on this date

18 June – The Spencer Davis Group

19 June – The James Royal Set and The Soul Agents

24 June – Radio London Night with bands

25 June – The Emeralds and The James Royal Set

26 June – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds

1 July – The Quiet Five and The Trendsetters Ltd

2 July – Radio London Night

3 July – Gary Farr & The T-Bones

8 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

9 July – The Crystals

10 July – The Moody Blues

15 July – The Who and Roscoe Brown Combo

16 July – Episode Six and The Legend

17 July – The Troggs, The Wild Things and The Jimmy Brown Sound

22 July – Rufus Thomas

23 July – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones

24 July – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The En-Devers Ltd

29 July – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and The Summer Set

30 July – The Riot Squad

31 July – Joyce Bond and The Jimmy Brown Sound

5 August – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

6 August – Episode Six

7 August – Solomon Burke

12 August – The Move

Missing listing for 13 August

14 August – Jimmy Brown Sound

19 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Tea Set

20 August – The Midnights

21 August – The Action and The Mode

26 August – The Magic Lanterns and The Knack

Missing listing for 27 August

28 August – The Pretty Things and Sands

2 September – The Spencer Davis Group

3 September – Episode Six

4 September – The Birds (with support)

9 September – The Jimmy Brown Sound and The Satellites (soon to become The Army)

10 September – Julian Covey & The Machine

11 September – Long John Baldry & Steampacket

16 September – The Symbols and The Quiet Five

17 September – Two groups

18 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

23 September – The Trendsetters and Winston G

24 September – Two groups

25 September – Los Bravos

30 September – Robert Parker and The James Royal Set

1 October – Two groups

2 October – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

7 October – The Cryin Shames

8 October – Two groups

9 October – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

14 October – Lee Dorsey

15 October – Two groups

16 October – Batman & Robin

21 October – Sonny Childe & The TNT

22 October – Two groups

23 October – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Guests)

28 October – The Birds

29 October – Two groups

30 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

4 November – The Dixie Cups

5 November – Two groups

6 November – The Creation

11 November – The Coasters (probably backed by The Noblemen) and The Mode

12 November – Two groups

13 November – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

18 November – Wishful Thinking

19 November – Two groups

20 November – Ben E King and Winston G

25 November – The Mindbenders

26 November – Two groups

27 November – The Birds

2 December – The All Night Workers and Sands

3 December – Two groups

4 December – Cream and The Essex Five

9 December – Gass and The Fleur De Lys

10 December – Two groups

11 December – The Drifters and The Bystanders

16 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

17 December – Two groups

18 December – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

23 December – Eric Burdon & The Animals and The Night Train

24 December – Gass and The Penny Blacks

30 December – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede and The Barry Lee Show

31 December – The Birds and The James Royal Set

1967

1 January – Rick ‘N’ Beckers and The Majority

6 January- (Sonny Childe &) The TNT and The Syn

No listing for 7 January

8 January – The Move and The Roscoe Brown Combo

13 January – The Small Faces

No listing for 14 January

15 January – The Soul Sisters and Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede

20 January – The Coloured Raisins and The Herd

No listing for 21 January

22 January – Long John Baldry (& Bluesology)

27 January – Inez & Charlie Foxx and (Joe E Young &) The Tonicks

No listing for 28 January

29 January – The Symbols and The Dyaks

3 February – Winston G

No listing for 4 February

5 February – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

10 February – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Cool Combination)

No listing for 11 February

12 February – The Who

17 February – The Fenmen

No listing for 18 February

19 February – Cream

24 February – Lemon Line

No listing for 25 February

26 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

3 March – Cliff Bennet & The Rebel Rousers

No listing for 4 March

5 March – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band and The Shell (Shock Show)

10 March – The Coloured Raisins and King Ossie Show

No listing for 11 March

12 March – The Gods

17 March – The Easybeats

No listing for 18 March

19 March – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

24 March – Human Instinct and Joe E Young & The Tonicks

No listing for 25 March

26 March – The New Mojos and The Gods

31 March – Ronnie Jones (& The Q-Set?)

No listing for 1 April

2 April – Ben E King

7 April – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

No listing for 8 April

9 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

14 April – The Creation and The Syn

No listing for 15 April

16 April – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology)

21 April – Pink Floyd

No listing for 22 April

23 April – Mary Wells and The Gods

28 April – PP Arnold (backed by The Nice?) and The Syn

No listing for 29 April

30 April – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Shinn

5 May – Rick ‘N’ Beckers

No listing for 6 May

7 May – Jeff Beck Group and Sean Buckley

12 May – The Shell Shock Show and The Syn

No listing for 13 May

14 May – Normie Rowe & The Playboys

19 May – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band

No listing for 20 May

21 May – The Troggs and The State Express (they later backed Edwin Starr)

26 May – The Shell Shock Show and The Syn

No listing for 27 May

28 May – Alan Price Set

2 June – Edwin Starr (probably backed by The Senate)

No listing for 3 June

4 June – The Warm Sounds and The Birds and The Bees

9 June – Mike Quinn Rave

No listing for 10 June

11 June – Cream and The Triads

16 June – The Shell Shock Show

No listing for 17 June

18 June – The Drifters

23 June – The Move and The Gods

No listing for 24 June

25 June – The Chiffons and Midnight Train

No listing for 30 June or 1 July

2 July – The Toys

Ron Lewingdon says Steve Priest’s pre-Sweet group, The Army were also on this bill. He remembers appearing at the venue with The Toys

No listing for 7 or 8 July

9 July – The Jeff Beck Group

14 July – The All Night Workers

No listing for 15 July

16 July – The Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology)

21 July – The All Night Workers

No listing for 22 July

23 July – The Action and The Syn

28 July – Modes Mode

No listing for 29 July

30 July – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and The Human Instinct

4 August – The All Night Workers

No listing for 5 August

6 August – The Bee Gees and The Pussyfoot

11 August – Modes Mode

No listing for 12 August

13 August – The Small Faces

Henry Turtle says that his group The Doves played with The Small Faces at this venue several times. This seems the most likely date for one of the shows but needs confirmation

18 August – The Syn

No listing for 19 August

20 August – The Jeff Beck Group

25 August – The New Jump Band

No listing for 26 August

27 August – The Human Instinct and The Triads

1 September – The Pussyfoot

No listing for 2 September

3 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

8 September – The Shell Shock Show

No listing for 9 September

10 September – James & Bobby Purify and The James Royal Set

15 September – The Unsuited Medium

No listing for 16 September

17 September – The Original Drifters (backed by The Trend)

22 September – The Wranglers

23 September (first Saturday listing for the year) – The Breakthru

24 September – The Tiles Big Band

29 September – The New York Public Library

30 September – The Breakthru

1 October – The Alan Bown Set and The Calgary Stampede

No listing for 6 October

No listing for 7 October

8 October – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

13 October – Amen Corner

No listing for 14 October

15 October – Max Baer & The Chicago Setback

20 October – The Human Instinct

21 October – Warren Davis (was he on his own or with The Monday Band?)

22 October – The Ebony Keys and The All Night Workers (possibly the new version of this band)

27 October – Mr Hip Soul Band

28 October – The Wranglers

29 October – Geno Washington & Ram Jam Band and The All Night Workers

3 November – Pesky Gee

4 November – The Taylor Upton Big Jump Band

5 November – Ben E King and Dr Marigold’s Prescription

10 November – Horatio Soul & The Square Deals

11 November – The Triads

12 November – Marmalade and Legay

17 November – Katch 22

18 November – Willie Walker & The Scene

19 November – The Skatalites and The Open Mind

24 November – The Minor Portion Roll Band

25 November – Keith Skues and The Shock Treatment

26 November – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Living Daylights

1 December – J J Bendol & The SOS

2 December – Katch 22

3 December – Geranium Pond and Modes Mode

8 December – Hydro Bronx B Band

No listing for 9 December

10 December – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

No more listings for the year, so would welcome any additions

1968

Melody Maker didn’t appear to advertise the venue during 1968, so I’ve listed references next to the entries I have found. It looks like they were Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but the listings are not complete and I would welcome any additions

Missing lists from January-April 1968

19 April – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 April – Ike & Tina Turner Show (Harrow Weekly Post/New Musical Express)

26 April – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

27 April – The Lace (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 April – Garnet Mimms and The Lace (Harrow Weekly Post) Mimms may have cancelled

3 May – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

4 May – Pandemonium (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing on 5 May

No listing on 10 May

11 May – The Cruudas (Harrow Weekly Post)

12 May – The Honeybus (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing on 17 May

18 May – Rainbow Ffolly (Harrow Weekly Post)

19 May – Marmalade and Rainbow Ffolly (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing on 24 May

25 May – Jo Jo Gunne (Harrow Weekly Post)

26 May – Edwin Starr (backed by The State Express) (and with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

31 May – The New Flamingos (Harrow Weekly Post)

1 June – The Greatest Show on Earth (Harrow Weekly Post)

2 June – Duane Eddy and The All Night Workers (Harrow Weekly Post)

Henry Turtle says his band The Doves played with Duane Eddy at this venue. The All Night Workers definitely played too

7 June – The Midnights (Harrow Weekly Post)

8 June – The All Night Workers (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 June – The Fantastics (backed by The House of Orange) (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 June – The Exits (Harrow Weekly Post)

15 June – Orange Seaweed (Harrow Weekly Post)

16 June – Whisky Mac (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 June – The Apricots (Harrow Weekly Post)

22 June – Size Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 June – The New Breed (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 June – The Apricots (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 June – The Group (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

30 June – The Apricots (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

5 July – The Midnites (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 July – The New Breed (Harrow Weekly Post)

7 July – The Midnites (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing for 12 July

13 July – The Midnites (with support) (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 July – The Neuz (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing for 19 July

20 July – The Neuz (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 July – The Unison (Harrow Weekly Post)

No listing for 26, 27 and 28 July

No listing for 2 August

3 August – The Unison (Harrow Weekly Post)

4 August – The Unison (Harrow Weekly Post)

I don’t have any more listings for August and only odd ones for September and October so would welcome any additions

22 September – The New Breed (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September – The All Night Workers (Harrow Weekly Post)

5 October – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 October – The Race (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 October – Colin Berry (Wednesday) (Harrow Weekly Post)

12 October – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

2 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

3 November – The Midnites with Dynamic Maxine (Harrow Weekly Post)

8 November – Colin Berry (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

10 November – The Midnites with Dynamic Maxine (Harrow Weekly Post)

15 November – The Midnites with Dynamic Maxine (Harrow Weekly Post)

16 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

There is no listing for 17 November

22 November – Colin Berry and The Midnites (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 November – The James Morton Sound (Harrow Weekly Post)

There is no listing for 24 November

I have no more listings for November and a gap in early December

11 December – The All Night Workers (Wednesday) (Harrow Weekly Post) Says Sudbury, but the address is the same – Allendale Road

I have no more listings for December so would welcome any additions

Categories: England, London

Freddie Mack’s bands March 1968-February 1969

August 14, 2015 Nick Warburton 11 Comments

Cover of Freddy Mack's Live album, re-released by Acid Jazz — Cover of Freddy Mack’s Live album, re-released by Acid Jazz

Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.

Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians. Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.

Thanks to tenor sax player Geoff Driscoll, it’s possible to pin down the line-up for Freddie Mack’s band from about early March 1968 through to around February 1969.

According to Driscoll, drummer Colin Davy left shortly before he joined (later playing with Joe Cocker among many others). The band, he adds, had just returned from playing the Blow Up Club in Munich (from mid-to-late March) which Davy’s replacement Pete Hunt had played.

When Driscoll hooked up with Freddie Mack around early April, the band comprised:

Freddie Mack – lead vocals

Tony Morgan – lead vocals

Sonny Gibbons – lead vocals

Tony St Clair (Sinclair) – lead guitar

Roy Davies – organ

Alan Cartwright – bass

Sonny Corbett – trumpet

Phil Kenzie – tenor saxophone

Dave Potter – tenor saxophone

Geoff Driscoll – tenor saxophone

Dave Coxhill – baritone saxophone

Pete Hunt – drums (took over from Colin Davy in mid-to-late March in time for Munich trip)

Of the new line-up, Pete Hunt came from the Southampton area and had worked with a number of bands, most notably The Quik, The Meddyevils and The Soul Agents.

Tony St Clair, who came from Hackney, had joined Phil Wainman’s band literally a few weeks after they’d played the Christmas/New Year show with Freddie Mack in 1965. He would remain with Wainman’s band as it became The New Generation and backed Jimmy Cliff during 1966. The formation then joined forces with Gary Hamilton and became The Hamilton Movement. When St Clair left in late 1967, it’s reported that he played with Lace.

Phil Kenzie of course had worked with Freddie Mack in 1966 and had gone on to play with Sonny Childe & The TNT, Tuesday’s Children and PP Arnold & TNT in the interim.

Dave Coxhill had played with Tony Knight’s Chessmen and would also spend time with The Cat Soul Packet in late 1967 (and possibly early 1968).

According to the band’s roadie Martin James Lumley, Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott was also a member during this period.

Geoff Driscoll recalls that the new line-up soon returned to the Blow Up Club in Munich via a gig in Belgium and then travelled to Rome to play at the famous Piper Club for three weeks. Some of the band met an RCA record executive who informed the musicians that the label was about to release a single by an actor that was going to be an enormous hit – it was Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park”.

However, after nearly a year of playing with Mack and moaning about not getting paid, the band split from the singer (around February 1969) whereupon they were approached by Dave Hadfield to work as the house band (The Breed) at his Maximum Sound Studio on the Old Kent Road. The Breed backed a few reggae singers on Hadfield’s label before Manfred Mann got involved and lured the horn section away for Manfred Mann Chapter 3.

While Dave Coxhill and Sonny Corbett remained with Manfred Mann Chapter 3, Geoff Driscoll and Phil Kenzie reunited with Roy Davies and Alan Cartwright in Sweet Water Canal. Pete Hunt later worked with The Jess Roden Band among many others.

Selected gigs:

Melody Maker notes in its 2 March issue that the group was playing in Salisbury (not Alex’s Disco unless they replaced the advertised act) and Tony Morgan was taken to hospital with a knife wound.

8 March 1968 – Bradford University, Student Union with The Attack, The Quick Selection and The Collection

15 March 1968 – 400 Club, Torquay, Devon

16 March 1968 – Impsella Club, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire

16 March 1968 – Loughborough University, Loughborough with The Nice (The Pretty Things don’t show)

It was around now that Pete Hunt replaced Colin Davy on drums (not clear if it was before or after the Munich gigs below). Davy would reunite with former member Dave Tedstone in Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band in mid-August 1968.

Del Paramor says his group The Warren Davis Monday Band finished at the Blow Up Club in Munich (see Driscoll’s comment above) on 17 March and that Freddie Mack took over. The residency was probably for two weeks, starting on 18 March.

22 March 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (unlikely considering Munich gig)

Norwich newspaper The Eastern Evening News notes that the group is in Germany the week that they are due to play a show on 27 March at the University of East Anglia (which is rearranged for 15 June).

31 March 1968 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (may not have happened if they were still in Germany)

Geoff Driscoll would have joined The Mack Sound around the first week of April.

5 April 1968 – Grand Ballroom, Leicester with Chalky & The Decoys

6 April 1968 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts

9 April 1968 – Maidstone Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent

12 April 1968 – Flamingo Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall (listed as 7-piece Mac Sounds)

13 April 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall

14 April 1968 – Flamingo Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall (listed as 15-piece)

15 April 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Vigilantes (listed as 15-piece)

19 April 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Leicester with Johnny Wollaston and His Band

25 April 1968 – Flying Fox Club, Cottesmore, Rutland with Symbolin and A Mystery Group

It’s probably around late April that the band plays in Belgium on its way to a second residency at the Blow Up Club in Munich.

The group would probably have started its three-week residency at the Piper Club in Rome around 6 May, heading back to the UK around the last week of May.

7 June 1968 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Dual Purpose

8 June 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands

9 June 1968 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Jasper Stubbs Gloryland Band

10 June 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Shady Lane

15 June 1968 – East Anglia Rag, University of East Anglia’s Student Union, Norwich, Norfolk (originally booked for 27 March but rearranged as they were in Germany)

16 June 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands

17 June 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Barmy Barry

19 June 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, London

25 June 1968 – Droitwich Winter Gardens, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Breakdown

26 June 1968 – Top Rank Birmingham Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

30 June 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham, south London

30 June 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Keef Hartley

4 July 1968 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

6 July 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with Soul Express

19 July 1968 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Emotions

20 July 1968 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall (the group may have played gigs in Europe immediately after this date)

Melody Maker‘s 27 July issue, page 20, says that the band is back after a series of continental gigs.

28 July 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London

8 August 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, London

14 August 1968 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall

15 August 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Fire and Sons and Lovers

16 August 1968 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Jamies Jyg Saw

17 August 1968 – New King’s Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

23 August 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham, West Midlands

24 August 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire

25 August 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London

31 August 1968 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire

2 September 1968 – Bluesology Festival, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire with Fleetwood Mac, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Family, The Move and others

7 September 1968 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with The Mood

10 September 1968 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire

23 September 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with Cleo’s Mood and Systems Five

25 September 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (cancelled due to illness)

26 September 1968 – Blue Pacific, Bristol Hotel, Gloucester

28 September 1968 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey

Around this time, the band was joined by Jamaican singer Owen Grey.

3 October 1968 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, London

5 October 1968 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands with John McFlare Band

6 October 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands

6 October 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (this was pushed back to 13 October)

13 October 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (this was pushed back from 6 October and marks the group’s third anniversary)

19 October 1968 – Shrewsbury Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

24 October 1968 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hampshire

25 October 1968 – Spinning Wheel Discotheque, Great Hall, Isle o Ely College, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

25 October 1968 – Victoriana, Liverpool (9.30pm) and then Mardi Gras Club, Liverpool (11.30pm)

26 October 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham, West Midlands

30 October 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands

1 November 1968 – Queen Mary’s College, Mile End Road, London with Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes, The Web and Black Cat Bones

2 November 1968 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

4-6 November 1968 – Hatchettes Playground, Piccadilly, London

9 November 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Sweetshop

15 November 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset with Fascination

16 November 1968 – Elms Court, Botley, Oxford

22 November 1968 – Co-op Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire with Legay

13 December 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Gun

14 December 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with Sandy’s People

16 December 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Barmy Barry

21 December 1968 – The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands

By January 1969, the band was starting to be billed as The Freddy Mack Extravaganza.

17-18 January 1969 – Birmingham’s First 1969 Extravaganza, Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Locomotive, The Fantastics, The Flirtations, The Californians, Ivan Chin Steel Band, Liz Christian and The Ebonites

23 January 1969 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with ‘Fat Boy’ Billy Stewart

23 January 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London

27 January 1969 – Shipley Boat, Shipley, Eastwood Nottinghamshire with Fatboy Billy Stewart (this is probably one of the final gigs by the current formation)

Melody Maker‘s 8 March issue notes that Freddie Mack is forming a new 11-piece band to debut on 11 April in Bristol at the New Market Hotel.

GARAGE HANGOVER WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 1969-1970 PERIOD.

I would personally like to thank Geoff Driscoll for helping to piece together this part of the band’s story. Thanks also to Greg Russo and Bruce Welsh.

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW TO ADD/CORRECT INFORMATION

Live gig sources:

During my research on Freddie Mack from 1965-1969, I have found gigs from the sources that include:

The Cornish Guardian, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Sentinel, Melody Maker, Gloucester Citizen, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Lincolnshire Guardian, Birmingham Evening Mail, NME, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, Express & Star, Nottingham Evening Post

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

Categories: England, London

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, Hounslow, London, Middlesex

The Attic Club, Hounslow, west London

March 8, 2014 Nick Warburton 89 Comments

Opened on 2 June 1964, the Attic Club in Hounslow was an important music venue in west London.

Located at 1a High Street, the club subsequently became the Zambesi Club and then the Ricky Tick.

All of the gigs below are from the Kingston & Malden Borough News (unless otherwise noted). There are some omissions and some acts that were advertised may have been changed at the last minute.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any missing dates, correct any entries and provide any memories of the club in the comments below.

2 June – The Swinging Blue Jeans (this was the opening night)

3 June – The Vandells Blues

4 June – The Tempests

5 June – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (Middlesex Chronicle initially has The Skyways in support and then a week later it advertises Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters)

6 June – The Sheffields

7 June – The Smokey Beats

9 June – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and The Vandells Blues (Middlesex Chronicle)

10 June – Eddie King & The Chequers (Middlesex Chronicle)

11 June – The Copains (Middlesex Chronicle)

12 June – The Dennisons and The Stereos

13 June – Alex Harvey Soul Band and Miston Tuac

14 June – The Beatvendors

Them featured in Boyfriend Magazine in 1964

Them featured in Boyfriend magazine, 1964

16 June – The Pretty Things and Them (not Van Morrison’s band but a local group that became Themselves)

17 June – The Mods and Gene & The Cossacks (Record Mirror)

18 June – The Nitebeats

19 June – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders and The Tempests

20 June – The Cheynes, The Kingbees and The Roosters (this is most likely the version led by brothers Pete and Ron Jeffries and not Ben Palmer’s Roosters who had featured Eric Clapton and Tom McGuinness between January and August 1963).

21 June – The Arrows

23 June – The Fairies and Miston Tuac

24 June – The Beatvendors and The Sinphires

25 June – The Yardbirds and The Snowballs

26 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Gene & The Cossacks (possibly replaced by The Travellers)

27 June – The Vandells Blues, The Habbits and The Clique

Record Mirror has The King Bees rather than The Clique

28 June – The Stereos

29 June – Rory Blackwell & The Monsters, The Senators and Group Four (Record Mirror notes that the club is now open on Mondays)

30 June – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men and Them (aka Themselves)

1 July – Diane & The Londoners, Ray Del & The (Rocking) Deacons and The Spirits

2 July – The Sideliners

3 July – The Merseybeats and The Arrows (replaced by The Kossacks and The Bow Seekers)

4 July – Blues by Six and Miston Tuac

5 July – Gene & The Cossacks

6 July – Rory Blackwell & The Monsters and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Ian Gillan didn’t join until November 1964)

7 July – Charlie & Inez Foxx, The Spencer Davis Group and Group ’65’ (Them aka Themselves)

8 July – The Snowballs and The Beat Syndicate

9 July – Roy & The Vampires

10 July – Erky Grant & The Tonnettes, The Tempests and The Second Thoughts

11 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Copains

12 July – The Beatvenders (aka The Beatvendors)

13 July – Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, The Tridents (Jeff Beck didn’t join until early September 1964) and The Springbeats

14 July – Alex Harvey Soul Band and Miston Tuac

15 July – Eddie King & The Chequers

16 July – The Klook

17 July – The Chants, The Harlems and Just Memphis

18 July – The Sheffields and Them (aka Themselves)

19 July – Wayne Dean & The Telestars

20 July – Rory Blackwell & His Monsters

21 July – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Long John Baldry and Blues x 6 (Blues by Six?)

22 July – The Mojos and The Soundcasters

Middlesex Chronicle has The Fanatics instead of The Soundcasters

23 July – The Ravers

24 July – The Animals and Steve Marriott’s Moments

25 July – Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated and Miston Tuac

26 July – Special All Star Show with PJ Proby with The Diamonds with Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters, The Sonics, The Roosters and The Condors

27 July – Rory Blackwell & The Monsters with supporting groups

28 July – The Cheynes

29 July – The Skyways

30 July – The Seytons

31 July – Mal Ryder & The Spirits with Steve Marriott’s Moments

1 August – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Ray Clevelands

2 August – The Clique

4 August – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and Miston Tuac

5 August – Gene & The Cossacks and The Phantom Raiders

6 August – The Cardinals

7 August – Dave Curtiss & His Tremors and The Fanatics

8 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Clique

9 August – Steve Marriot’s Moments

10 August – group plays according to Middlesex Chronicle but the name isn’t listed

11 August – Steve Marriot’s Moments

12 August – Eddie King & The Chequers

13 August – The CC Riders

14 August – The Stormsville Shakers and The Ray Clevelands

15 August – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames with Them (aka Themselves)

16 August – The Cops & Robbers

18 August – Steve Marriot’s Moments

19 August – The Pitmen

21 August – Manfred Mann and Gene & The Cossacks

22 August – The Graham Bond Organisation with supporting groups

23 August – Jerry James & The Bandits (Middlesex Chronicle)

25 August – Them (aka Themselves) (Middlesex Chronicle)

26 August – The Hysters (Middlesex Chronicle)

28 August – Grant Tracy & The Sunsets and The Sways

Record Mirror has Jerry James & The Bandits rather than The Sways while the Middlesex Chronicle has Brian & The Knights

29 August – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men and The RBQ

30 August – The Ray Clevelands

1 September – Steve Marriott’s Moments

2 September – Tony Knight & The Livewires

4 September – The Beatmen and The Fanatics (the latter may have been replaced by The Soundcasters)

5 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Them (aka Themselves) Beat Monthly lists The Downliners Sect on this date

6 September – Brian & The Knights

8 September – Them (aka Themselves)

9 September – The De Kuyper Sect

11 September – The Classmates and Gene & The Cossacks

12 September – The Spencer Davis Group and The Pitmen

13 September – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Middlesex Chronicle)

15 September – Steve Marriott’s Moments

16 September – The Eiffels (Middlesex Chronicle)

18 September – Annette & The keymen and The Cheetahs (Record Mirror)

19 September – The Soul Agents (Rod Stewart didn’t join until December 1964)

Record Mirror has Jerry James & The Bandits as The Soul Agents’ support band

20 September – Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s diary)

Record Mirror has Les Fauves on this date (they probably remained as support band)

21 September – missing entry

22 September – missing entry

23 September – missing entry

24 September – missing entry

25 September – Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Ken Gordon & The Downsiders

26 September – The Downliners Sect and The Clique

27 September – The Swinging Grades

Record Mirror and the Middlesex Chronicle have The Cobwebs rather than The Swinging Grades

29 September – The Sonics

Record Mirror has DJ Rona Lee Jay on 29 September

Missing many entries for October

2 October – Keith Powell & The Valets and The Soundcasters (Record Mirror)

3 October – The Ray Clevelands and The Certs (Record Mirror)

4 October – The Blues Profits (Record Mirror)

6 October – DJ Rona Lee Jay and The Rumbles Blues Band (Record Mirror)

9 October – Annette & The Keymen and Jeff Elroy & The Boys Blue (Record Mirror)

10 October – The Soul Agents with supporting group

11 October – The Kentones (Record Mirror)

13 October – DJ Rona Lee Jay (Record Mirror)

16 October – Jon Best & The Challenges and The Nesters (Record Mirror)

17 October – Just Memphis and The Rumbles Blues Band (Record Mirror)

18 October – The Kingpins (Record Mirror)

20 October – DJ Chuck Benell (Record Mirror)

31 October – Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s diary)

Top clipping and photos courtesy of Gray Newell. The rest are from the Kingston & Malden Borough News and Middlesex Chronicle.

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