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Categories: England

The Loose Ends

August 21, 2020 Nick Warburton 5 Comments

Formed in Bexley Heath, Kent in late 1963, The Loose Ends were fronted by singer Alan Marshall (b. 19 February 1944, Karachi, British India, now Sindhi Province, Pakistan) and his bass playing cousin Rick Marshall.

Lead guitarist Ron Spence (b. 23 April 1947, London, England; d. 25 June 1973) was also there from the outset alongside drummer Peter Hetherington and rhythm guitarist John Knox who had been introduced to the band by Spence.

After rehearsing in a scout hut in Bexley Heath and playing some local gigs, keyboard player Roy Davies (b. 3 October 1944, Monmouthshire, southeast Wales; d. 1986), who was working in a music shop on Bexley Heath Broadway, took over from Knox around early 1964.

The group also brought in a drummer from Luton called Rick who was subsequently replaced by Orpington-based drummer Alan “Noddy” Whitehead (b. 24 July 1945, Oswestry, Shropshire). Whitehead had previously worked with singer Crispian St. Peters.

The band became the house band at St Lawrence Church Hall in Catford, southeast London during this period.

The new formation started landing regular gigs at notable local venues like the Bromel Club in Bromley, the Tiger’s Head in Downham and the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill. Crucially, their manager Bryan Mason secured the group a residency at Lewisham’s El Partido, a club that he owned, which helped build their local fan base.

However, around June 1965, Ron Spence departed to join local rivals The Revellos, who were also managed by Bryan Mason.

Ron Spence (second right) with The Carl Douglas Set, 1966. Photo: Ken Baxter

In early 1966, Spence joined The Carl Douglas Set and remained with the Jamaican singer for about six months (recording unreleased material) before hooking up with Bexley, Kent outfit, The Big Wheel, which featured future Clark-Hutchinson member, Andy Clark. The group toured extensively in Switzerland and recorded a rare single there in late 1966 for the Eurex label. During this period, the guitarist started to work under the name Ron Bryer.

The Big Wheel Eurex PS back — Ron Bryer (far right) with Big Wheel, Switzerland, 1966

When The Big Wheel split, Ron Bryer joined Barry Window & The Movements in July 1967 and appeared on a string of singles and two LPs.

Ron Bryer with The Movements, 1967. Photo: Barry Window

Berry Window & The Movements with Ron Bryer (third from left back row). Photo: Barry Window

During 1968, however, he formed The Third Eclipse who changed name to Brainticket and recorded the Krautrock classic Cottonwoodhill album in 1971. Returning to London in the early Seventies, he briefly reunited with Alan Marshall in One but tragically died from a drug overdose on 25 June 1973.

Selected gigs:

13 June 1964 – Memorial Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk with The Hunters

18 June 1964 – Cafe Dansant, Cleethorpes with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders

4 July 1964 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk

18 July 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex

8 August 1964 – The Northfields, Stamford, Lincolnshire

5 September 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex

26 September 1964 – Glenlyn Club, Forest Hill, southeast London (start playing Monday nights)

3 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Paramounts

16 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Birds

12 December 1964 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts

14 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Original All-Stars

19 December 1964 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Maniax

24 December 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Roadrunners

24 December 1964 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

2 January 1965 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Horizons

16 January 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts

22 January 1965 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts

25 January 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

29 January 1965 – Rainbow Club, Acre Hall, Northwood, Middlesex

2 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Pretty Things

13 February 1965 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Trends

18 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

25 February 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

26 February 1965 – Starlite, Greenford, Middlesex with The Birds

3 April 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

10 April 1965 – Ticky Rick Club, Carnival Hall, Basingstoke, Hants (Says direct from 100 Club)

15 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

18 April 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, East Dereham, Norfolk with The Tea Time Four

23 April 1965 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants

24 April 1965 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Defenders

25 April 1965 – Face Club, Grantham, Lincolnshire

29 April 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

2 May 1965 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Five Dimensions

16 May 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

16 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London

23 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London

27 May 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

28 May 1965 – Studio ’61, Leicester Square, central London with Ray Sone

4 June 1965 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon with The Buccaneers

6 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

Guitarist Peter Kirtley (b. 26 September 1945, Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham) from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear took Ron Spence’s place. A former member of The Chevrolets and Shorty & Them, Kirtley had appeared on the latter’s lone single, “Pills or Love’s Labour Lost” c/w “Live Laugh Love”, released on Fontana in 1964, and a German-only album, shared with Liverpool group, The Roadrunners, before decamping to London in early 1965.

According to the South East London Mercury newspaper’s 19 February 1965 edition, Kirtley and fellow Jarrow musician, bass player, the late Brian Rowan formed the short-lived Take Six with southeast London musicians, organist Roger Read (ex-Wranglers/Showtimers) and drummer Graham Willard in early 1965.

In February 1966, The Loose Ends landed a semi-residency at the exclusive Mayfair nightclub, the Scotch of St James.

Having inked a deal with Decca Records in late 1965, The Loose Ends cut their debut single, an impressive take on “Send The People Away”, a rare Moody Blues’ track penned by Mike Pinder and Denny Laine, backed with a cover of “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”, which was shipped in July 1966.

That same month, South East London Mercury reported that bass player Dave Collman (b. 13 April 1946, Croydon, Surrey) had taken over from Rick Marshall.

The Loose Ends, circa July 1966. Left to right: Roy Davies, Peter Kirtley, Dave Collman, Alan Marshall and Alan Whitehead. Photo: Peter Kirtley

Selected gigs:

13 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

Photo: Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times

19 June 1965 – Jazz & Blues Festival, Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon’s Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers and The Epitaph Soul Band

20 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

26 June 1965 – Swaffham Assembly Rooms, Swaffham, Norfolk with Mike Prior & The Pagans

27 June 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

4 July 1965 – Studio 51, Leicester Square, central London

25 July 1965 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Mode

14 August 1965 – Ticky Rick and Rang-A-Tang Club, Basingstoke, Hants

10-11 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee

11 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee, Sonny Childe and Lou Johnson

13 September 1965 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

14 September 1965 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

15 September 1965 – Cromwellian, south Kensington, west London

16 September 1965 – The Raven, Ladywell, southeast London

17 September 1965 – Beckenham Ballroom, Beckenham, south London

18 September 1965 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

18 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Artwoods (Southeast London Mercury has Lou Johnson)

25 September 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Guy Darrell

2 October 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with support

2 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Jesse Fuller, The Spectres and Duke Lee

9 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Dave Anthony’s Moods, Duke Lee and Next of Kin

10 October 1965 – Tavern Club, Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with The Knock-out Squad

16 October 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London

20 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Long, Short & Tall and Duke Lee

23 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Minor Birds and Duke Lee

27 October 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands

30 October 1965 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (possibly their debut Nottingham appearance)

30 October 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Hamilton & The Movement and Duke Lee

3 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Blues Roots and Duke Lee

11 November 1965 – Hoochie Coochie Club, Wooden Bridge Hotel, Guildford, Surrey

12 November 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

19 November 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire

20 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Guy Darrell, Winds of Change and Duke Lee

27 November 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Panics and Duke Lee

9 December 1965 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with Sonny Childe and Ad Finitum

11 December 1965 – Milford R&B, Strutt Arms, Milford, Derbyshire

12 December 1965 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (from The Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London)

16 December 1965 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

18 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Frank Sheen Sound and Duke Lee

24 December 1965 – Birdcage, Kimbells Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire

24 December 1965 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee and Frank Sheen Sound

3 January 1966 – Gala Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands

3 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London

Photo: Hastings and St Leonards Observer

8 January 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Web

16 January 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Ketas

30 January 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Marvin Lois Enterprise

5 February 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Defenders and The Convoys

13 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Trends

15 February 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Five Proud Walkers

19 February 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

20 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

21 February 1966 – Starting this week, The Loose Ends played the Scotch of St James in Mayfair, central London three times a week. They will continue to play the exclusive nightclub throughout the year.

24 February 1966 – Gala Baths, West Bromwich, West Midlands

26 February 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

5 March 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with Tony Knight’s Chessmen

11 March 1966 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London

12 March 1966 – Golden Star Club, Caledonian Road, north London

16 March 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

17 March 1966 – Pontiac, Putney, southwest London

Photo: Either Aldershot News or Camberley News & Bagshot Observer

26 March 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Koobas

29 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action

1 April 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with The Lonely Ones

Photo: most likely Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser

2 April 1966 – St Peter’s Hall, Croydon, south London with The Board Walkers

10 April 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex

10 April 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with The Lonely Ones

11 April 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Soundtracks and The Reasons

17 April 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

29 April 1966 – Links, Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire with support

30 April 1966 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent

1 May 1966 – Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London

14 May 1966 – Witchdoctor, Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London

18 May 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

20 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Market Hall, St Albans, Herts

26 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Bo Street Runners

27 May 1966 – Queen of Hearts, Queensbury, north London

28 May 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

4 June 1966 – Southeast Jazz Blues Festival, Blackheath, southeast London with Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Roy C and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

5 June 1966 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Tiffany’s Thoughts

6 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

7 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire

According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends are one of the three resident bands at the Scotch of St James for the week 11-17 June

12 June 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

13 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

17 June 1966 – Latin Quarter, Leicester with Five Minus One

18 June 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex

20 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

21 June 1966 – Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London with The Felders Orioles

25 June 1966 – KD Club, Stockton-on-Tees with The Denmen (Says from Scotch of St James)

27 June 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

According to an article in the Wandsworth Advertiser on 29 July, the band held down a Wednesday residency at the Bromel Club in Bromley during July and besides playing at the Scotch of St James and the Flamingo, The Loose Ends also performed at the Marquee. Apparently, they also opened a game at Charlton Athletic FC.

Barely a month after the band’s debut release, Decca issued a second single on 5 August 1966, once again produced by Noel Walker. Coupling a superb freakbeat version of George Harrison’s “Taxman” with the more R&B flavoured “That’s It”; the second outing should have been a hit but for some reason failed to chart.

However, despite the clutch of great singles, The Loose Ends were unravelling.

Photo: South East London Mercury, mid September 1966

In late September, Alan Whitehead departed, initially to join Cops ‘N’ Robbers. He then spent a month or so playing with southeast London group The Epitaph Soul Band before joining The Attack alongside singer Richard Shirman and guitarist David O’List.

Although he was photographed extensively with the band, Whitehead only appeared on two tracks (“Try It” and “We Don’t Know”) as he had already secured the drummer’s position in Scottish band The Marmalade. Whitehead remained with The Marmalade throughout its most successful years. In an interesting side note, Whitehead says that he auditioned for the group that became Procol Harum in spring 1967.

Selected gigs:

6 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley southeast London

8 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Rufus Thomas

9 July 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with The Corvettes

13 July 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley, southeast London with The Good Things

16 July 1966 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London

17 July 1966 – Eltham Baths, Eltham, southeast London

18 July 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ray Brown’s Sounds

20 July 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London with The Squires

22 July 1966 – Waterfront, Southampton, Hants

23 July 1966 – Penthouse, Birmingham with Deep Feeling and Mark V

24 July 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

26 July 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

27 July 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

29 July 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends were one of three resident bands at the Scotch of St James with The VIPs and The Paramounts during the week 30 July – 5 August 1966

20 August 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support

21 August 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent

27 August 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex

28 August 1966 – Tavern Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Sullivan James Band

Photo: Mirabelle, 3 September 1966 issue

3 September 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Yes ‘N’ No

9 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gary Farr & The T-Bones

10 September 1966 – Corn Exchange, Maidstone, Kent with support

11 September 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham

15 September 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London

17 September 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (Alan Whitehead’s final gig)

Photo: South East London Mercury, 6 October 1966

Rick Marshall and Alan Whitehead’s departure prompted a wider split. In early-to-mid-October 1966, Peter Kirtley departed and accepted an offer to join The Alan Price Set, working alongside bass player Boots Slade; trumpeter John Walters; sax players Steve Gregory and Clive Burrows (later replaced by Terry Childs); and drummer Roy Mills.

Selected gigs:

2 October 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham

5 October 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent

8 October 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (may have been Kirtley’s final gig)

With two of the band’s integral members gone, Alan Marshall joined forces with Croydon band, The Subjects. The south London group featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ) (b. 30 March 1950, London, England); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums).

The Subjects at Bromley Court Hotel, 1966. Left to right: John Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and Alan Griffin. Photo: Alan Griffin.

At the same time, the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas & The Charmers among others.

Mick Patel (second right) with Carl Douglas & The Charmers, late 1965. Photo: Ken Baxter

By late November/early December 1966, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and Bryan Mason recruited bass player Colin Pullen from Kent bands, Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All. Another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde, succeeded Roy Manderson soon afterwards.

The Loose Ends, circa mid-November 1966. Left to right: Roy Manderson, Malcolm Rudkin, Mick Patel, Phil Lanzon, (front) Alan Marshall, Alan Griffin and John Manderson. Photo: South East London Mercury, 15 December 1966 issue.

Roy Davies and Dave Collman meanwhile appear to have worked in a rival Loose Ends for a few months (although Davies appears to be pictured with Marshall and other groups after the Raven Club gig in early November, see below).

Roy Davies (wearing hat) with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, July 1967.

Roy Davies joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound around February 1967.

Selected gigs:

12 October 1966 – Gravesend R&B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (The Loose Ends played the club’s opening night according to PACE magazine)

15 October 1966 – Bligh’s Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent

15 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

17-18 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

23 October 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

25 October 1966 – Yum YumClub, New Georgian Club, The Gun, Croydon, south London (Dick Dale booking)

28 October 1966 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

29 October 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with The Squeeze, The Original Hermits and The Trap

2 November 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands

2-5 November 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London

3 November 1966 – Raven’s Club, Lewisham, southeast London with Lee Hawkins and Coloured Raisins

Photo of The Loose Ends after the Raven Club gig. The photo seems to suggest that Roy Davies (fifth from the right) is still in the band. Photo: South East London Mercury

12 November 1966 – Matlock Ball Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Family

19 November 1966 – Co-op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham with guest group

20 November 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London

In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the Alan Marshall version of The Loose Ends by bringing in another Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker (b. 28 March 1944, Erith, Kent) and the group landed a residency at the Playboy Club on Park Lane. While there, The Loose Ends entertained the entire England World Cup winning team and their wives.

Selected gigs:

3 December 1966 – Royal Ballroom, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Soul Foundation

Photo: Most likely Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph

24 December 1966 – Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Kru and Size Seven

26 December 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (billed as The New Loose Ends)

January 1967 – New Spot, Gosport, Hampshire (1^st week of January)

6 January 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

15 January 1967 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (billed as The New Loose Ends)

The Loose Ends in Milan, January 1967. Left to right: Bob Saker, Colin King, Mick Patel, roadie on congas, Alan Marshall, Tony Glyde, Colin Pullen and Phil Lanzon. Photo: Colin Pullen/Bob Saker

After rehearsing at the El Partido in Lewisham, and playing a lone gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon in early January 1967, The Loose Ends landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January. Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Colin King & The Royals and Bob ‘N’ All took his place.

While playing at the Bang Bang in Milan, the musicians met Georgio Moroder plus Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll at the club.

The Loose Ends at the Bang Bang Club in Milan. Left to right; Tony Glyde, Colin King, Bob Saker, Mick Patel and Colin Pullen. Alan Marshall and Phil Lanzon are not pictured. Photo: Colin Pullen/Bob Saker

In early March, The Loose Ends returned to London and Alan Griffin took over from his replacement Colin King. The new line-up played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy.

While loading out the band’s gear from the Speakeasy one night, Jimi Hendrix and a couple of friends came out and the famous guitarist told Lanzon: “Nice combo man”.

Sometime in late April/early May, Tony Glyde left to join The Fenmen briefly before moving on to Simon K & The Meantimers and his predecessor Roy Manderson returned.

Simon K & The Meantimers, late 1967. Tony Glyde is far right. Photo: Alan Wherry

Around the same time, Mick Patel also left to join The Canadians (with future rock star David Foster) and then joined The Warren Davis Monday Band (with Foster) with whom he appeared on the 45 “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” c/w “Without Fear” before moving to British Columbia in late 1967.

Mick Patel (third left) and David Foster (third right)

During early June, Alan Marshall and Bob Saker flew to the United States to record two tracks at Muscle Shoals with Otis Redding. The soul singer had caught the pair fronting The Loose Ends during the Stax-Volt Tour back in April and impressed by their soulful vocals invited them to record a Fame Studios.

The pair cut covers of “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing” with Redding producing. However, soon after there was a split between Jerry Wexler and Phil Walden and the proposed single was held back. The two singers returned to London that summer to find The Loose Ends had splintered.

Selected gigs:

January-March 1967 – Bang Bang, Milan, Italy (six weeks and billed as Gli Erranti)

8 February 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent (This might have been booked but didn’t happen)

11 February 1967 – Ye Ye Club, Milan, Italy (billed as Alan Marshall e Gli Erranti)

25 February 1967 – Bligh’s Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent (probably the band’s first UK gig after returning from Milan if it did happen)

1 March 1967 – Gravesend R ‘n’ B Club, Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend, Kent

4 March 1967 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

8 March 1967 – Bromel Club, Downham, southeast London

April 1967 – Scotch of St James and Speakeasy (Otis Redding sees them at one of the venues)

15 April 1967 – The Polytechnic, Central London with The Savoy Brown Blues Band

Cats Pyjamas, 1968. Clockwise from bottom left: Alan Griffin, Kenny Bernard, Roy Manderson, Phil Lanzon and (front) Colin Pullen. Photo: Colin Pullen

With the singers both gone, Colin Pullen, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon and Roy Manderson stuck together and looked for a new front man. Adding singer Kenny Bernard (b. 31 December 1943, Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies), (previously from The Wranglers but at the time a solo artist), they changed name to Cats Pyjamas and made two excellent singles with CBS. The group held down a residency in Madrid in May 1968 and then gigged around London. Lanzon, Griffin and Manderson briefly played with Geno Washington in late 1969-early 1970.

Phil Lanzon later recorded with Grand Prix, toured and recorded with Sweet and has toured and recorded with Uriah Heep since the mid-1980s. He has also recorded solo CDs

When the two recordings were shelved (after Redding’s untimely death), Bob Saker cut a lone single for Polydor and then a string of singles for Parlophone and CBS (as Saker) in 1968 and 1971. In 1972, he reverted to his full name and recorded a series of singles for the York label and an album They’ve Taken Back My Number, which featured Maurice Gibb. He later found success as a voice-over artist.

Happy Magazine, 1968. Alan Marshall (back left). Peter Kirtley (second left). Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the image

Alan Marshall meanwhile reunited with former Loose Ends guitarist Peter Kirtley in Happy Magazine, a soul/R&B outfit that was managed and produced by Alan Price.

Joined by Kirtley’s old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them plus Alan White on drums (who was replaced later by west Londoner Malcolm Wolffe from The Tribe), the band cut material that was split over three singles for Polydor.

Kicking off with Alan Price’s excellent “Satisfied Street”, backed with “Beautiful Land” in December 1967, featuring a horn section that may well be Amboy Dukes members Buddy Beadle and Steve Gregory (also ex-Alan Price Set), the label re-issued the track three months later coupled with the Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham soul classic “Do Right Woman – Do Right Man”.

However, it was possibly the band’s third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You”, coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”, issued on 14 February 1969, that should have catapulted the band into the charts.

One 1969. Left to right: Alan Marshall, Bobby Sass, Kevin Fogerty, Conrad Isidore, Brent Forbes and Norman Leppard

With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year (with Peter Kirtley reportedly playing the lead guitar on some tracks).

Joined by guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); keyboardist Bobby Sass (an early member of Happy Magazine); bass player Brent Forbes; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album sank without a trace.

Peter Kirtley and Kenny Craddock meanwhile brought in three friends from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and future Yes drummer Alan White, who’d been the original drummer in Happy Magazine, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.

Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head”, coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.

Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.

Kirtley also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.

Alan Marshall, meanwhile, surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.

When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up working with a new version of One (with Jackie McAuley) before joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined.

However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and briefly revised One with Ron Bryer before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall, who is now a pastor, continues to busk in Stratford, east London.

Interestingly, Gonzalez’s keyboard player was Roy Davies, Marshall’s former band mate from The Loose Ends. In the intervening years between joining Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound and working with Gonzalez in 1974, Davies had played with The Maximum Breed Band and later The Butts Band with members of The Doors. He later became a prolific session player before passing away in 1986.

The Loose Ends recordings meanwhile have surfaced on numerous Sixties CD compilations, including Deram’s Mod Scene and Freakbeat Scene.

I would like to especially thank Alan Marshall, Alan Whitehead, Peter Kirtley, Martin Morrison-Mariner, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Colin Pullen, Bob Saker, Ken Baxter, Tony Charman and Mick Glyde for helping with the story. Thanks also to Vernon Joynson and Bruce Welsh.

This is an extensively updated version of an article that was originally published on the Strange Brew website. I’d like to thank Jason Barnard for all of his help and support over the years.

I have tried to attribute the photos correctly where possible but would welcome any corrections.

The gigs have been sourced largely from Melody Maker plus many local newspapers, including the South East London Mercury, Aldershot News, East Kent Times, Eastern Evening News, Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Harrow Weekly Post, Kent Messenger, Lincolnshire Standard, Lynn News, Maidstone Gazette, Evening Argus, Bristol Evening Post, Newmarket Journal, Nottingham Evening Post, Birmingham Evening Mail, Stamford Mercury, Surrey Advertiser, Harrow Observer, Tunbridge Wells Courier and Yarmouth Mercury among others.

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

Categories: England

The Fenmen’s gigs 1964-1967

October 19, 2017 Nick Warburton 11 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.

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: Country, England, London

Happy Magazine

December 4, 2015 Nick Warburton 4 Comments

Back row left to right: Alan Marshall, Alan White and Kenny Craddock. Front row, left to right: Peter Kirtley and Brian Rowan. Photo: Peter Kirtley

Alan Marshall – lead vocals

Peter Kirtley – lead guitar

Kenny Craddock – organ

Brian Rowan – bass

Alan White – drums

Happy Magazine was soul/R&B band that was formed during August 1967 by singer Alan Marshall and lead guitarist Peter Kirtley and was managed and produced by former Animals keyboard player/singer Alan Price.

The two musicians have previously played together in Southeast London R&B group, The Loose Ends from around July 1965 to October 1966 when Kirtley departed to join The Alan Price Set.

Alan Marshall meanwhile formed a new version of The Loose Ends, drawing on Croydon, Surrey band, The Subjects, which featured Malcolm Rudkin (vocals); Alan Griffin (lead guitar); Phil Lanzon (organ); John Manderson (bass); and Roy Manderson (drums).

After a short while, John Manderson and Malcolm Rudkin, who did not want to turn professional, departed and the band’s manager Bryan Mason recruited sax player/guitarist Mick Patel, who had previously worked with Carl Douglas and bass player Colin Pullen from Kent band, Bob ‘N’ All. Not long after, Roy Manderson was succeeded by another Bob ‘N’ All member, Tony Glyde.

In early December 1966, Bryan Mason expanded the formation by adding another Bob ‘N’ All member – singer Bob Saker and the group played regularly at the Playboy Club.

The Loose Ends then landed a residency at the Bang Bang Club in Milan’s San Guiliano district, which kicked off in the third week of January but Alan Griffin departed just before the group left for Italy and Colin King from Bob ‘N’ All took his place.

During early March 1967, The Loose Ends returned to London and played at the Scotch of St James and the Speakeasy. At one of the venues, Otis Redding spotted Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and invited them to Muscle Shoals to record, and during May/June the singers cut two tracks – “Johnny B Goode” and “Keep on Pushing”, which were never released. Marshall and Saker then returned to the UK.

By this point, Peter Kirtley was ready to leave The Alan Price Set to team up with Alan Marshall and around August the pair formed Happy Magazine. Initially, Marshall’s friend Bobby Sass was going to play keyboards but he departed after initial rehearsals.

Kirtley, who was originally from Tyneside and had played with Shorty & Them during the early 1960s, introduced his old friends from Jarrow, the late Kenny Craddock on organ from Tyneside bands The Elcorts and New Religion, and Brian Rowan on bass from Shorty & Them. He also recruited drummer Alan White, formerly a member of Tyneside outfits, The Bluechips and The Gamblers.

During 1968, Alan Price recruited Alan White for his backing band, and Malcolm Wolffe from West London bands, The Tribe and Dream took over. The band then cut its third and final outing, a brilliant reading of the Dee/Potter collaboration, “Who Belongs To You” (again with horns), coupled with the previously available “Beautiful Land”. Issued on 14 February 1969, the single should have catapulted the band into the charts.

With the single failing to grace the charts, Alan Marshall departed to form the experimental jazz/funk/blues band, One, who cut a brilliant lone album for Fontana later that year.

Peter Kirtley Brian Rowan Kenny Craddock Malcolm Wolffe Alan Marshall — Left to right: Peter Kirtley, Brian Rowan, Kenny Craddock, Malcolm Wolffe and Alan Marshall

Joined by lead guitarist Kevin Fogarty (originally a member of Southport R&B group, Timebox); his old friend and keyboardist Bobby Sass; bass player Brent Forbes from Salford bands, The Rogues and Sunshine; sax and flutist Norman Leppard; and drummer Conrad Isidore, One should have been a huge success but the album (which featured Peter Kirtley on lead guitar) sank without a trace.

Peter Kirtley, Kenny Craddock and Alan White meanwhile brought in two friends from Newcastle – ex-Skip Bifferty members, singer Graham Bell and bass player Colin Gibson, and signed to Bell Records for a one-off single as Griffin.

Produced by Alan Price and issued on 25 September 1969, the Kirtley-Gibson-Craddock collaboration, “I am The Noise in Your Head,” coupled with Kirtley’s “Don’t You Know” was an impressive outing but failed to trouble the charts.

Griffin soon splintered and Kirtley went on to record with several notable bands, including Riff Raff, Radiator and Pentangle. Later he appeared on albums by Liane Carroll and Bert Jansch.

Kirtley has also issued two solo albums, Peter Kirtley and Bush Telegraph as well as the charity single, “Little Children”, for Jubilee Action, to raise money for street children in Brazil and featuring Paul McCartney.

Having fronted new versions of One, Alan Marshall surfaced as a solo artist on Fontana in 1970. In France, the label issued a rare single that coupled One’s excellent cover of Richie Havens’s “Don’t Listen To Me” with a solo outing – “How Much Do You Know”, adapted from “Adagio Royal” by F de Boivallee.

When that single failed to chart, Marshall ended up joining Strabismus, which subsequently changed its name to Riff Raff when the singer’s former band mate from The Loose Ends/Happy Magazine, Peter Kirtley joined. However, Marshall quit before Riff Raff’s debut album was recorded and pursued a solo career before recording with Zzebra. He then joined Gonzalez in the late Seventies in time for their 1979 release, Move It To The Music. Marshall continues to perform in London.

Alan White became a top session player, working with John Lennon and George Harrison among others and later joined Yes, with whom he continues to play.

White’s replacement Malcolm Wolffe meanwhile joined Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

Notable gigs:

2 September 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Erskine T (Birmingham Evening Mail)

9 September 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Tremeloes (Melody Maker)

9 September 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Winston G & Heart and Souls (Melody Maker)

22 September 1967 – Darling Club, Maidenhead, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)

23 September 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

23 October 1967 – Foseco Sports & Social Club, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Tamworth Herald)

4 November 1967 – G-Ranch, Discotheque, Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Gazette)

19 November 1967 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

13 January 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

17 February 1968 – Nuneaton Parish Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire with Arnham Bloo (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

24 February 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

7-9 March 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, central London (Melody Maker)

7 April 1968 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Yarmouth Mercury)

13 April 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton with Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)

28 April 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

8 June 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Tamca Band and Watson Brown Band (Wrexham Leader)

19 July 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Easybeats and Rivers Invitation (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

20 July 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

22 July 1968 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes with Ferris Wheel and Glass Showband (Grimsby Daily Telegraph)

1 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

8 August 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)

9 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

10 August 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

19 August 1968 – Bluesville ’68, Manor Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star)

2 September 1968 – Bluesville ’68, Manor Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star)

7 September 1968 – Rainbow Suite Co-op, Birmingham with The Baron (Birmingham Evening Mail)

11 September 1968 – Summerhill House Hotel, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)

19 September 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)

29 September 1968 – The Tent Club, Swan Hotel, Billingham with The New Blues Revue (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

19 October 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Earl Preston’s Reflections (Warrington Guardian)

20 October 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)

26 October 1968 – Cheltenham Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

3 November 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The New Formula (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: Redcar Jazz Club/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

3 November 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury) This seems very unlikely unless it was another date

8 November 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

9 November 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

16 November 1968 – Stage Club, Oxford (Oxford Mail)

30 November 1968 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

22 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Animals, Grapefruit, The Paul Williams Set, Barry St John, Long John Baldy, Kim Davis & The Beginning, Noble Forde and The Tempo Set (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) Original Animals’ reunion gig/Geno Washington was billed but cancelled

27-28 December 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

3 January 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

19 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Paul Williams Set (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book, Backstage Pass: RedcarJazzClub)

25 January 1969 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

8 February 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Locomotive and Magazine (Birmingham Evening Mail)

9 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

22 February 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

1 March 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

11 March 1969 – Club Domino, Bedlington, Northumberland (Sunday Sun)

Thanks to Alan Marshall, Peter Kirtley, Alan Griffin, Phil Lanzon, Bob Saker and Colin Pullen for helping piece the story together. Thanks to Peter Kirtley for the photos.

Please contact the author at Warchive@aol.com with further information/corrections

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, 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)

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Tag Archives: Tony Glyde

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The Fenmen’s gigs 1964-1967

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