Tag Archives: Vincent Crane

Categories: England, London

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

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Portsmouth News, 12 October 1967. Top to bottom: Drachen, Vincent and Arthur. Image may be subject to copyright

Arthur Brown (lead vocals) 

Vincent Crane (keyboards) 

Drachen Theaker (drums) 

1965

Photo may be subject to copyright

November Arthur Brown (b. Arthur Wilton, 24 June 1942, Whitby, West Yorkshire, England) has been active on the music scene for the past year and graduated from Reading University with a philosophy degree in the summer. Brown has first become interested in pursuing a career in music while studying law at King’s College, London six years earlier. Exposed to traditional and modern jazz and art movies, he is also inspired by a Ken Colyer concert and picks up the banjo. While he never masters the instrument (nor completes his law degree), it leads him on a music path and he starts attending rhythm and blues evenings in Leeds. In 1963, he enrols at Reading University initially to study English, economics and social studies before switching to philosophy. While at Reading, he learns the basics of double bass and plays with The Yellow Dog Trad Band from Southampton who are playing the university circuit. However, after catching a Manfred Mann show at the university, he changes musical direction and becomes lead singer with his own R&B group, Blues and Brown. During this period, he issues his debut recording, a Rag week flexi-disc on Reading Rag Records in mid-1965, comprising two tracks: “You’ll Be Mine” by The Diamonds and “You Don’t Know” by Arthur Brown with The Diamonds. Brown subsequently relocates to Fulham, London and, after answering an advert in Melody Maker, joins mod group, The Swinging Machine, who comprise guitarist Paul Brett, bass player Roy Stacey, keyboard player Arthur Regis, sax players Tony Priestland and Derek Griffiths and drummer Jim Toomey. The group gigs as Arthur Brown & The Machines and then The Arthur Brown Union and are joined by backing singer Heather Swinson.

Photo: Paul Brett. The Arthur Brown Union without Heather Swinson in Fulham. Left to right: Brett, Griffiths, Toomey, Stacey, Regis and Priestland. Arthur Brown seated

December Brown leaves to form The Arthur Brown Set with keyboard player Robin Short, guitarist Martin Kenny and bass player Barry Dean, who plays with Patto’s People in late 1966. Together with a young drummer, the band moves to Paris, France and takes up a lengthy residence at the Ange Rouge club in Montmartre where the musicians perform with strippers and naked transvestites! The drummer finds the whole experience too much and French drummer Christian Deveaux takes over. The Arthur Brown Set provides two tracks – “Baby You Know What You’re Doing” and “Don’t Tell Me” to Roger Vadim’s film, La Curee, which is released in the US as The Game Is Over. Paul Brett joins the group in June 1966 and The Arthur Brown Set takes over from The Ingoes at the Bus Palladium in Paris before working at a club in Marbella, Spain. Brett returns to England later that year and joins The Overlanders but will reunite with Brown in 1967.

1966

October Brown organises a rehearsal at Marquee Studios with horn players Lyn Dobson and Henry Lowther with the intention of forming a new group to return to France to play club residencies. Brown invites Drachen Theaker (b. John “Drachen” Theaker; 16 April 1948, d. 1992), who he met in September after answering an advert that the drummer placed in Melody Maker, to join the outfit. Theaker has previously played briefly with Manchester groups, The Measels and The Wheels before doing equally short stints with Jimmy Powell and Wynder K Frog.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

November (5) Brown’s group (billed as The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) is advertised as providing support for The Herd at the Marquee on Wardour Street in Soho, central London.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(12) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appear at the Shoreline Club in Bognor Regis, West Sussex with The VIPs. However, when the opportunity to play the promised gigs in France falls through, Brown and Theaker decide to go their separate ways, with the drummer gigging with Jimmy Cliff and then The VIPs. Brown meanwhile meets former Trinity College of Music graduate Vincent Crane (b. Vincent Rodney Cheesman, 21 May 1943, Reading, Berkshire, England; d. 14 February 1989) at a flat in West Kensington and talks his way into the keyboard player’s latest group, The Vincent Crane Combo, which has a residency at the Witches’ Cauldron in Belsize Park. Crane has been active on the music scene for a number of years, having made his stage debut during an interval in a show by jazz player Humphrey Lyttleton at the Marquee in 1963 billed as “the loudest piano player in the world”. While at Trinity, he also plays with a short-lived piano jazz trio known as The Vincent Cheesman Trio and a blues band variously known as The Simon Magus Band or The Vincent Cheesman Blues Brothers. After leaving the music college in 1964, Crane and sax player Peter Gifford join Lew Hird’s Australian Jazz Band for a European tour and after returning that autumn, the pair form The Big Sound, who record some demos. Over the next two years, Crane (and his band) also work as a backing group for Crane’s old friend Paul Green and others in Word Engine (also known as Poetry Unlimited). In mid-1965, Crane plays with Mod/R&B outfit, J C (aka Julian Covey) & The Machine and then forms Vincent Crane’s Freedom Riders and latterly The Vincent Crane Combo, which comprises bass player Binky McKenzie, sax player John Claydon and drummer Gordon Hadlow.

Photo: Melody Maker. Vincent Crane has residency at Witch’s Cauldron. Image may be subject to copyright

December Brown debuts with The Vincent Crane Combo at a gig in Brighton where Drachen Theaker is in the audience. Short of work, however, the band breaks up before the year is out. Intrigued by each other’s musical ideas, Brown and Crane forge plans to work together on a more ambitious project in the near future, but in the meantime, hook up with other groups in order to make a living. Crane joins ailing pop group Hedgehoppers Anonymous for short spell in late February 1967.

1967 

January Brown hooks up with The Ramong Sound (which later finds fame as The Foundations), working with the group for a month before reuniting with Crane in the aptly named, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.

February The ambitious new group is completed late in the month with the addition of Drachen Theaker and Crane’s old friend, Peter Gifford, who departs early on. Crane has just left Hedgehoppers Anonymous.

March The Crazy World of Arthur Brown debuts at the 7 ½ club in Shepherd’s Market, Mayfair, where they are spotted by producer Joe Boyd, who invites the group to appear at the underground club, the UFO on Tottenham Court Road, central London.

(31) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown make their debut at the UFO with The Alberts in support.

April (14) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appear at the UFO club with The Social Deviants.

(29) The recently formed band makes one of its first major appearances at 14-Hour Technicolour Dream event, held at the Alexandra Place in north London with many other artists.

May (5) Returning to the UFO, they play on a bill with The Soft Machine.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(19) Back at the UFO, they perform on a bill that also includes Tomorrow, The People Show and The Sun Trolley.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(20) The next day, the group appears at the Ram Jam in Brixton, south London with The Shevelles.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

June The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play two shows at the Electric Garden in Covent Garden, central London, during the month. The first is with The Apostolic Intervention. The second one later in the month features both groups with The Tomorrow and The Herbal Mixture.

(16) The group plays at the UFO with The Soft Machine and The People’s Blues Band.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(24) The band appears at the London School of Economics with The Soft Machine, 117, Sugar Simone & The Programme, The Barbados Steel Band and Nisar A-Khan.

July (1) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at the 117 club with Apostolic Intervention.

(9) They appear at Tiles on Oxford Street, central London.

(14) Back at the UFO, the band is joined by Alexis Korner and Victor Brox. Joe Boyd expresses an interest in signing the band but instead it attracts the attention of Who guitarist Pete Townsend, who records some tracks at his home studio, which are subsequently used in the film, The Committee. Later in the month, Townsend encourages his managers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert to sign the band to the Track label.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(29) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown joins a stellar cast of artists at the Alexandra Palace in north London, including Eric Burdon & The Animals, Pink Floyd, The Creation and Blossom Toes.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

August (11) The group plays at Tiles on Oxford Street, central London with Embers.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(12) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appears at the 7th National Jazz Pop Ballads and Blues Festival, Balloon Meadow, Royal Windsor Racecourse, Windsor, Berkshire with Paul Jones, Pink Floyd, Zoot Money, Amen Corner, Ten Years After, Timebox and many others.

(13)  The band plays at the Swan in  Yardley, West Midlands with Varsity Rag.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(18) Another show at the UFO finds the group sharing the bill with The Incredible String Band.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(21) The band returns to the Marquee in central London for the first time since November 1966 with The Studio Six in support.

(27) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at Saville Theatre on Shaftsbury Avenue with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Tomorrow, Georgie Fame, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Denny Laine’s Electric String Band, Dantalion’s Chariot and others.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(28) Brown’s group appear at the Festival of Music, held at Hastings Stadium in Hastings, East Sussex with The Kinks, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Robb Storme & The Whispers, Winston’s Fumbs and The Hip Hooray Band.

September The band’s debut single, “Devil’s Grip” (which features Paul Brett, who has recently left The Overlanders to join The Warren Davis Monday Band), is released but does not chart. After another former Arthur Brown Union member, bass player Roy Stacey, fails the audition at the Middle Earth in Covent Garden, Nick Greenwood aka Sean Nicholas (b. 2 March 1948, Hertford, Hertfordshire) joins and appears on sessions for the band’s debut album alongside session drummer John Marshall, who is brought in to replace Theaker on some tracks. The resulting album is not released until spring 1968. Nicholas has started out with Mickey Mann & The 3 Dimensions before playing with Cufley and The Soul Concern.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(1) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown participate in the UFO festival, held at the UFO club, playing the first night alongside Pink Floyd and Tomorrow.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(2) The group performs at Pearce Hall, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

(3) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown travel to Nottingham for a show at the Britannia Rowing Club before returning to London.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(4) Following the success of its Marquee show in August, the band returns for another show with Ten Years After in support.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(9) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at the Ricky Tick in Hounslow, west London.

(11) The group returns to the Marquee the following week for a show with The Nite People in support.

(16) The band appears at the Corn Exchange in Chelmsford, Essex.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(18) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown make another appearance at London’s famous Marquee club backed again by The Studio Six.

Photo: Southern Evening Echo. Image may be subject to copyright

(19) The band plays at the Concorde club, the Bassett Hotel, Southampton.

Photo: Cityweek. Image may be subject to copyright

(22-23) The band travels to Northern Ireland for two shows. The first is at the Electric Honeypot in Bangor with The High Wall. The following night, they appear at Club Rado in Belfast.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(30) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at the Middle Earth in Covent Garden with The Exploding Galaxy, Mabel Greer’s Toyshop and The Kult.

October (1) They appear at Middle Earth in Covent Garden, central London with Exploding Galaxy, Mabel Greer’s Toyshop and Kult.

(3) With Ron Wood from The Jeff Beck Group on bass, the band records its debut show for John Peel’s BBC radio show. The session, which comprises recordings of “Witch Doctor”, “Nightmare”, “Devil’s Grip”, “I Put A Spell On You” and “Time”, is broadcast later that month.

Photo: Worthing Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright

(12) They play at the Pier Pavilion in Worthing, West Sussex.

(20) The band appears at Maesteg Town Hall, Maesteg, south Wales with Clockwork Motion and Love Sculpture.

November (10) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at the Carlton Ballroom in Erdington, West Midlands.

(18) The band play at Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

December (9) The group appears at Middle Earth, Covent Garden with Rainbow Reflections and The Misfits.

1968

January (6) The band plays at St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire.

Photo: Eastern Evening News. Image may be subject to copyright

(17) Arthur Brown’s group appear at the Gala Ballroom, Norwich.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(20) The group appears at the End of Rag charity event, held at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, north London with Fleetwood Mac, The Move, Fairport Convention, Geranium Pond and Paper Blitz Tissue.

February (9) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown support Cream at Leicester University Arts Ball, Leicester.

March (29) The band plays at Middle Earth in Covent Garden with Blonde on Blonde.

April (8) A second John Peel session is recorded with the tracks “Fire”, “I Put A Spell On You”, “Child Of My Kingdom” and “Come And Buy” captured on tape.

(13) The band plays at the Marquee in central London with Timebox. With Nick Greenwood as permanent bass player, the band undertakes a brief Italian tour.

(28) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play their final show before embarking on their debut US tour with a gig at the Middle Earth in Covent Garden.

May (3-4) On its debut US tour, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown open for Jefferson Airplane at the Fillmore East in New York.

(5) Canadian Jeff Cutler (b. Rowland Jefferies Cutler, 8 September 1941, Toronto, Ontario), previously a member of Toronto R&B outfit, Jon and Lee & The Checkmates and New York-based David Clayton-Thomas & The Phoenix, takes over from Drachen Theaker who is suffering from nervous exhaustion. Cutler has recently subbed for Spencer Dryden in Jefferson Airplane on some New Jersey area dates and was playing with that group when it headlined over The Crazy World of Arthur Brown at New York’s Fillmore East. Theaker leaves and heads for Los Angeles where he subsequently does session work for Love, appearing on Four Sail, before backing Warren Zevon. Theaker will return to the UK in mid-1969 and reunite with Arthur Brown in a new version of the group.

(11) Cutler makes his debut with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown at Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan where the band appears with The Doors, James Cotton Blues Band and Jagged Edge. During the show, Crane attacks Brown and Cutler on stage and has to be restrained.

(18-19) The group plays at the Miami Pop Festival, Gulfstream Racetrack with The Mothers Of Invention, Blue Cheer, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry and others.

(29-30) The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown appear at the Grande Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan.

(31) – June (1) The band joins Love for a show at the Grande Ballroom.

June (13) The group is supported by Big Brother & The Holding Company at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium.

(14-15) The band performs at San Francisco’s Winterland with Big Brother & The Holding Company.

(21-22) The group plays at the Kaleidoscope in Los Angeles with The Byrds and Fruminous Bandersnatch. Crane returns to England and British keyboard player Dick Heninghem is drafted in to fulfil the remaining tour dates. Heninghem has previously worked with Nick Greenwood in Mickey Mann & The 3 Dimensions, Cufley and Soul Concern.

(28-29) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown join The Who, Fleetwood Mac (and for the second night only) The Steve Miller Band for a show at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. Brown breaks two bones in his foot after falling unexpectedly into the lighting pit and only plays one set.

July While on tour in the United States, the group’s second single, “Fire”, tops the UK charts and subsequently hits #2 on the US Billboard charts. The band’s debut album, named after the single, also tops the UK charts. The band returns to England this month and Heninghem is dropped.

(20) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at Ryde Castle Hotel on the Isle of Wight backed by Uriel (featuring Steve Hillage). The line-up is Brown, Greenwood, Heninghem and a stand-in drummer. Heninghem has been rehired for the gig while Brown plans a new version of the group. Melody Maker reports on this day that Arthur Brown is rehearsing a new version of the group with former Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds drummer Carl Palmer (b. 20 March 1950, Handsworth, Birmingham, England). Bill Davy reportedly fills the keyboard position briefly before Palmer’s colleague from Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Pete Solley (b. 19 October 1948, London) takes over after working with Los Bravos. Former drummer Jeff Cutler and his New York partner Marvin Sylvor buy Brown’s contract following the US tour and together take on the task of representing, managing, negotiating, handling finances and booking gigs for the band. They also help visually develop, design and fabricate Brown’s North American tour later that year. The new line up begins work on recording a second album, provisionally titled, The Trials Of The Magician.

August (3) The new formation (with Palmer and Solley) appear at the Torbay Blues and Beat Festival, Middle Earth, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon.

(3) With Palmer on drums and Solley on keyboards, Arthur Brown and Nick Greenwood records a BBC session for The Saturday Club.

(6) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at the Marquee in central London with East of Eden in support.

(10) The new line up headlines the second night at the National Jazz & Blues Festival held at Kempton Racecourse, Sunbury, Middlesex with The Nice, Jeff Beck, Ten Years After, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Joe Cocker, Deep Purple, Clouds, The Nite People and Ginger Baker.

(14) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown record another BBC session for The Parade of Pop.

(16) Brown’s group travel to the southwest for a show at Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock, Devon.

(17) The band performs at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, north London. Later that evening, it also appears at the Middle Earth club with The Writing on The Wall and Sam Apple Pie.

(21) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London.

(24) They perform at Dunstable’s California Ballroom in Bedfordshire.

(31) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appear at the Isle of Wight Festival, held at Fishbourne with The Move, T-Rex, Fairport Convention, The Pretty Things and many others. On the same day, the group’s performance on West German TV programme, Beat Club is aired.

Photo: Western Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright

September (6) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at County Ballroom, Taunton, Somerset with Vikki Marauder & The Mirrors and The Levitation.

(7) The band returns for a show at the Roundhouse, sharing the bill with The Doors, Terry Reid, Jefferson Airplane and Blonde on Blonde.

(23) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appear at the Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.

(26) The group performs at Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with Blues Incident.

Photo: Middlesbrough Evening Gazette. Image may be subject to copyright

(29) The band plays at Redcar Jazz club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Elastic Band.

October (12) They appear at Sheffield University with The Who.

(18) The band appears at Brunel University with The Who, Alan Bown, Elmer Gantry & The Velvet Opera (with Paul Brett) and Skip Bifferty. The same day, the group also appears at the Lyceum in central London.

Photo possibly Chester Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright

(19) The group appears at Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Executives and Hockers Green.

(28) The band performs at Mecca Dancing, Locarno Ballroom, Southgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

November Vincent Crane returns to the line up replacing temporary fill-in, Pete Solley, who joins Terry Reid’s group.

(6) The reshuffled line up plays at Eel Pie Island with July and Proteus in support.

(7) They appear at Porchester Hall, central London.

(8) The band kicks off a UK tour supporting the Who alongside The Small Faces, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band and The Mindbenders at the Granada Cinema, Walthamstow, north London.

(9) The tour takes in Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire.

(10) The Who tour moves on to Bristol for a show at Colston Hall.

Image may be subject to copyright

(15-16) As part of the tour, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play the Middle Earth at the Roundhouse.

(17) The group plays at the Birmingham Theatre as part of The Who tour.

(18) The tour moves on to northeast for a show at Newcastle City Hall.

(19) On the penultimate night, the package tour arrives in Glasgow for a show at Paisley Ice Rink.

(20) The final night of the tour is a show at the Liverpool Empire.

December (15) Back Stateside for the second US tour, the group joins Fleetwood Mac for a show at the Music Hall, Houston, Texas.

(23) The band plays at Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan with MC5, SRC and The Rationals.

(27-28) The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown appear at New York’s Fillmore East with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield’s Supersession and Sweetwater.

1969 

February (4-5) The group appears at the Saugatuck, Michigan with The MC5, The SRC, The Stooges, Procol Harum and others.

(27) Back home The Crazy World of Arthur Brown perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

(28) Melody Maker lists The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appearing at the Rag Ball, Ealing Tech College, Seymour Hall, west London with Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera and The Spirit of John Morgan.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

March (8) The band performs at the Polytechnic on Little Titchfield Street, central London with Killing Floor.

Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright

(23) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appear at Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands.

May (31) The band appears at the Rock Pile in Toronto, Canada with Raven.

June (28) While on their third US tour, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown join Rhinoceros for a show at the Wollman Skating Rink, Central Park, New York, as part of the Schaefer Music Festival. Crane and Palmer leave the band separately in New York but meet on the plane home and decide to form a new group, Atomic Rooster, named after the nickname given to Peter Hodgson, the bass player in Rhinoceros and Jeff Cutler’s former band mate in Jon and Lee & The Checkmates. Brown is forced to continue the tour using whatever local band he can recruit that “fits the bill”. On one occasion, the singer arrives in Canada to find the musicians hired have learned all of the numbers he usually plays in the set but he tells them to forget all of it and after improvising the whole set, the group is rapturously received.

July (4) The band appears at the Saugatuck Pop Festival in Pottawattaimie Beach, Saugatuck, Michigan with Procol Harum, MC5, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Stooges, The Amboy Jukes, Bob Segar, The Rotary Connection and many others.

August (1-3) The group performs at the Atlantic Pop Festival with Chicago, Iron Butterfly, The Mothers of Invention, The Grateful Dead, The Byrds and many others.

October (31) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan with The Amboy Dukes, The Stooges, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Bob Seegar, Teegarden & VanWinkle and many others.

November Back home, Brown reunites with former member Drachen Theaker, who has been working with High Tide since leaving the US. Through Cream lyricist Pete Brown, the pair meet sax player George Khan and synth player Jonar Mitchell, who are recruited for a new version of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown alongside bass player Dennis Taylor (b. 11 May 1950, Leytonstone, London), a former roadie for the group during Vincent Crane’s tenure and then the band’s lighting man during the same period. The new line up, which is completed with guitarist Andy Rickell, records the album, Strangelands, which is not released at the time.

1970

February (28) The band supports Love at London’s Roundhouse during that group’s debut British tour, along with Matthews Southern Comfort, Jody Grind and May Blitz.

June (23) The Crazy World of Arthur Brown appear at Commemoration Ball, St Johns & Trinity Colleges, Oxford with The Moody Blues, Family and Fotheringay. The group tours France under the managerial guidance of Giorgio Gomelsky but it is a riotous affair and after returning to home, Brown, Theaker and Rickell leave. The trio rent a farm in Dorset and joined by keyboard player Roy Sharland, they play various concerts, including the Maryland in Glasgow, using the name The Puddleton Express. Soon afterwards, Brown leaves to form Kingdom Come with former member Dennis Taylor while Theaker and Rickell continue with the name briefly before splitting.

Sources include: 

Art Of Rock – Posters From Presley To Punk, by Paul D Grushkin, Artabras, Cross River Press Ltd, 1987.

Mark Paytress unravels The Crazy World of Arthur Brown – Creators of Fire, article at: www.godofhellfire.co.uk/altbiog.htm

London Live by Tony Bacon, Balafron Press, 1999

Mothers 1968-1971 by Kevin Duffy, Birmingham City Council, 1997

Strange Brew – Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970, by Christopher Hjort, Jawbone Press, 2007

The Castle – Love #2, by David Peter Housden, 1993.

The Castle – Love #9, by David Peter Housden, 1995.

The Peel Sessions, by Ken Gardner, BBC Books, 2007.

Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers, by Richie Unterberger, Miller Freeman Books, 2000.

White Bicycles by Joe Boyd, Serpent’s Tail, 2008

Newspapers and music paper resources include: Nottingham Evening Post, Toronto Telegram, Western Evening Herald, Western Gazette, Wakefield Express, Disc & Music Echo, Fabulous 208, Melody Maker, Variety, RPM

Many thanks to Arthur Brown for his personal recollections. I would also like to credit Olaf Owre for his work on Drachen Theaker’s early career with Manchester bands and specially thank Paul Green for his input on Vincent Crane’s pre-Crazy World of Arthur Brown career. Thanks also to Danny Hardman, Pete Solley and Miguel Terol. Thank you too Jeff Cutler for his personal insights to the band.

This is article is an updated and corrected version of an article that appears on the Marmalade Skies website. 

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

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

 

 

 

Categories: England, London

Julian Covey & The Machine

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Image may be subject to copyright

Drummer Robert Cromwell Anson (b. 20 October 1940, Sherwood, Nottingham) had played with various jazz bands, including The Don Rendell Quintet before joining The Brian Auger Trinity in July 1963 and working under the name Phil Kinnora.

In August 1964, Anson left to form his own group, The Machine, and adopted a new stage name, Julian Covey. The first line-up of the new formation came together that September.

Over the next three years, Julian Covey & The Machine underwent a staggering number of personnel changes, which often resulted in entirely new formations lasting a handful of months.

One of the first significant musicians to feature in the group’s ranks was Hammond organist Vincent Crane (b. Vincent Rodney Cheesman, 21 May 1943, Reading, Berkshire, d. 14 February 1989), who had previously worked with The Vincent Cheesman Trio, The Simon Magus Band/The Vincent Cheesman Blues Brothers, Lew Hird’s Australian Jazz Band and The Big Sound.

Photo: Melody Maker

It’s quite possible that Crane was part of the formation when Julian Covey & The Machine made its Marquee debut, opening for The Spencer Davis Group, on 4 May 1965.

Noted jazz sax player Bob Downes (b. 22 July 1937, Plymouth, Devon), who had previously worked with The John Barry Seven, remembers Crane being a member of the band for a while but it is unlikely that the Hammond organist was still on-board when Julian Covey & The Machine travelled to Accra in Ghana and performed a week-long gig in the city.

Crane, of course, would later go on to play with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster after playing with The Word Engine, Vincent Crane’s Freedom Riders and The Vincent Crane Combo in the interim.

Downes meanwhile would also work with The Word Engine before playing with Jimmy Nicol & The Shub Dubs, Chris Andrews and then Dave Antony’s Moods.

Around June 1965, Julian Covey pieced together a new version of The Machine comprising the following:

Julian Covey – drums/vocals

Jim Cregan – lead guitar

Dave Levy – piano

Cliff Barton – bass

+

Saxophone player

Cliff Barton (b. 1944, West Ealing, London, d. 16 May 1968) had worked with a host of bands before joining but didn’t stay very long, according to Jim Cregan (b. 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset). Barton’s pedigree included playing with Cyril Davies and The R&B All Stars and Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men. He would join The Alan Price Set on leaving Julian Covey.

Jim Cregan told Jason Barnard at the Strange Brew website that he joined Julian Covey and future Yes bass player Chris Squire for a short trip to Ghana to mark the inauguration of the Ghanaian TV service. The trio supported pianist Ramon Bouche and played on TV a couple of times but did not perform any live gigs. Ghana Today Television, the country’s national public broadcaster, run by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation commenced operations on 31 July 1965, so the band’s trip to Ghana would have been around this time.

A former member of The Muldoons, Jim Cregan would go on to play with The Ingoes and more significantly Blossom Toes in 1960s among others. He would also become a noted session player during the 1970s.

Image may be subject to copyright. This image dates from 1965. I would welcome any comments on who the musicians are

In October 1965, Covey formed yet another formation of The Machine which included:

John McVie – bass

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

+

Geoff Krivit – lead guitar

John McVie (b. 26 November 1945, Ealing, London) had been sacked from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers for his drinking in early October (his place taken by Jack Bruce initially).

Hammond organist Stan Marut also joined at this time after working with The Jynx Pack. He had previously been a member of Dickie Pride & The Original Topics.

Before the year was out, guitarist Geoff Krivit (b. 1948) who had subbed for Eric Clapton in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers between September-October 1965 joined The Machine briefly. He’d previously played with The Secrets, Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions and The Five Dimensions.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, the band supported The Shots (who later evolved into The Smoke) at Preston Public Hall on 29 October 1965 alongside Shawn Philips. The following dates opening for The Shots suggest that there may have been a short tour.

7 November 1965 – Belle Vue, Manchester with The Shots and Shawn Phillips (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

9 November 1965 – Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough with The Shots and Shawn Phillips (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

Marut remembers that The Machine landed a regular Saturday night gig at the Cromwellian during this period.

Photo: Melody Maker, early 1966

According to Melody Maker, they played at the Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, south west London on 6 November (see below), which took place part of the way through the tour with The Shots.

Shortly after John McVie returned to John Mayall’s band in the first week of January 1966, future Herd drummer Andrew Steele (b. 2 August 1941, Hendon, London, d. 18 April 2005) joined after working with Johnny Halliday. Steele had started out with Gary Farr & The T-Bones and was an old friend of Jim Cregan’s, having played with him in The Muldoons in early 1965.

Geoff Krivit also departed around February 1966 to spend time with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound before hooking up with Dr K’s Blues Band.

Guitarist Mike Ward and bass player Steve Rance from The Ad-Libs, the house band at Leicester Square club, the Ad-Lib joined at this time. The band then comprised:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Mike Ward – guitar

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

Steve Rance – bass

Andrew Steele – drums

Marut remembers the band played Peter Stringfellow’s club, the King Mojo in Sheffield and also at the Britannia Boat Club in Nottingham.

Marut also remembers sax player Dave Quincy from Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds used to jam with the group regularly.

I found a few gigs during this period:

26 February 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

18 March 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)

19 March 1966 – Stamford R&B Club, Stamford Hotel, Stamford, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

26 March 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

On the eve of a tour with John Lee Hooker in May 1966, Marut was forced to leave and Dave Greenslade took his place. After the tour, Dave Greenslade left to join Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.

While playing at Tiles, Oxford Street on 5 May (see above), the band’s drummer (Ed: Andrew Steele?) had to pull out and Covey took over the drum stool and gained praise from Hooker.

I found a few gigs during this period: 

13 May 1966 – Village, Cleethorpes (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Billed as The Machine and backed John Lee Hooker

14 May 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed John Lee Hooker

12 June 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

 

16 July 1966 – Greyhound Hotel, Cromford, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph)

21 July 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hants (Southern Evening Echo)

22 July 1966 – Peyton Place, Bromley South, London (Melody Maker)

According to David Else, a revamped line-up played in a side tent at the Windsor Festival on 30 July 1966.

Photo: Mirabelle, 27 August 1966 issue

Around September 1966, however, Covey reshuffled the band yet again to include:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Dave Mason – lead guitar

Keith Webb – drums

Dave Mason (b. 10 May 1946, Worcester, Worcestershire) had played in several local Worcester bands, most notably The Hellions before jumping ship to join Covey in late 1966.

Keith Webb (b. 1934, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, d. 31 March 2007) had previously worked with The Hipster Image and was probably the most consistent member of The Machine after Covey, surviving to the band’s split in September 1967.

According to the Kent Messenger & Gravesend Journal, the group appeared at Coronational Ballroom in Ramsgate, Kent on 9 September 1966.

Photo: Melody Maker. 10 September 1966

On 22 September 1966, Julian Covey & The Machine made their second Marquee appearance, opening for The Move.

In late 1966, Julian Covey & The Machine played at the Bag O’Nails in Kingley Street, Soho for a week. However, Mason didn’t stay long and in spring 1967 he formed Traffic and later found success as a solo artist.

On 8 October 1966, the band returns for another show at the  Greyhound Hotel, Cromford, Derbyshire.

On 29 October 1966, the group appears at the 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Noyse.

Around November 1966, Covey reshuffled the pack again to:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence (aka Johnny Holiday) – bass

Keith Webb – drums

Johnny Spence (b. 26 January 1942, Birmingham) had some pedigree, having previously worked (most notably) with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Pirates after splitting from the singer. He’d recently spent time backing US legend, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Indian-born John Morsehead had met Spence while playing with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Pirates. In May 1966, he joined The Shotgun Express where he played with future Machine member Peter Bardens.

A few notable gigs from this period include:

4 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

5 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London (Melody Maker)

12 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)

29 November 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton south London (Melody Maker)

 

14 December 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne (Fabulous 208)

16 December 1966 – Slade School of Fine Arts, Gower Street, central London with The Move (Fabulous 208)

30 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

 

2 January 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)

12 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

19 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

Around late January/early February 1967, Covey formed what is probably considered to be the definitive version of the band, which cut the group’s lone 45, “A Little Bit Hurt” c/w “Sweet Bacon”.

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence – bass

Pete Solley – Hammond organ

Keith Webb – drums

Ex-Trinity College of Music keyboard player Pete Solley (b. 19 October 1948, London) joined the existing line-up.

Having cut a lone single for Island Records, which was produced by Jimmy Miller, “A Little Bit of Hurt” c/w “Sweet Bacon” was released on 12 May 1967.

Image may be subject to copyright

The new formation gigged incessantly and shows included the following:

27 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

28 January 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Tropical Boot Company (Derby Evening Telegraph)

 

2 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

9 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

14 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Keith Webb (Evening Sentinel)

16 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

17 February 1967 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

 

8 March 1967 – Falcon Hotel, Falconwood, southeast London (PACE magazine)

21 March 1967 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

24 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

26 March 1967 – Klue J Club, Chelmsford, Essex (Poster)

21 April 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

 

5 May 1967 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

6 May 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The All Night Workers (Melody Maker)

13 May 1967 – Bluesville, St Thomas Parish Hall, Brentwood, Essex (Melody Maker)

27 May 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Small Change (Birmingham Evening Mail)

On 29 May, Covey also depped on drums for Keith Moon in The Who when the sticks man hurt his stomach throwing his drum kit at the crowd.

4 June 1967 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

17 June 1967 – Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

23 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Middlesex County Times)

24 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

28 June 1967 – Charles Keene College, Leicester Corn Exchange, Leicester with The Family and The Invaders (Leicester Mercury)

6 July 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band  (West Briton & Cornwall Gazette)

15 July 1967 – Cottingham Civic Hall, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire with The Locomotion (Hull Daily Mail)

In August 1967, they also performed at the 6th National Jazz and Blues Festival but soon after Peter Bardens, who’d briefly worked with The Love Affair, joined on Hammond organ. Bardens had an impressive musical pedigree, which included The Cheynes, Them, The Peter B’s and The Shotgun Express, which is where he worked with Morsehead.

Pete Solley next joined Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds but left in May 1968 to briefly work with Los Bravos. In late 1968, he joined Terry Reid’s backing band (where he reunited with Keith Webb) and then worked with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown before becoming member of Paladin.

In September 1967, Julian Covey & The Machine ran its course. Renamed Philamore Lincoln, Anson joined Graham Bond for several months before embarking on an intriguing solo career.

Morsehead next joined Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation while Spence retired but later reformed The Pirates.

NOTE: the band’s history is difficult to trace accurately so I would welcome any additions/corrections below in the comments section

Thanks Stan Marut, Bob Downes, Jim Cregan, Jason Barnard, David Else, Bruno Ceriotti and John Warburg for providing information. This website was also incredibly useful:

http://newuntouchables.com/magazine/tag/julian-covey-the-machine/

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

 

Categories: Cambridgeshire, Decca, England

Hedgehoppers Anonymous

38 Comments
1965, from left: Mick Tinsley, Alan Laud, John Stewart, Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash
1965, from left: Mick Tinsley, Alan Laud, John Stewart, Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash

Hedgehoppers Anonymous Regent Sound Ltd demo 45 Good News Week

Mike Tinsley (vocals)
John Stewart (lead guitar, vocals)
Tony Cockayne (rhythm guitar)
Ray Honeyball (bass)
Leslie Dash (drums)

1963

November Former Electrons lead singer Mike Tinsley (b. 16 December 1940, Portsmouth, Hants), guitarists John Stewart (b. 18 March 1941, Torphins, Kincardineshire, Scotland) and Tony Cockayne; bass player Ray Honeyball (b. 6 June 1941, Whickham, County Durham) and drummer Leslie Dash (b. 3 April 1943, Hillingdon, Middlesex) are all Royal Air Force ground crew based at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, England. Captivated by the beat scene exploding in the UK, they decide to form a band, The Trendsetters. The quintet performs initially in the officers’ mess at RAF Wittering but then ventures out, debuting at the White Lion pub in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. After receiving a positive reception, they play at the Dorothy Ballroom and the Corn Exchange in Cambridge.

1964

The band changes its name to The Hedgehoppers; a nickname for the “V” bombers, which can fly a few hundred feet above the ground, under enemy radar to avoid detection and ground-to-air missiles. A local agent spots The Hedgehoppers playing the local pub scene and arranges live gigs to showcase the band at weekends. By June, The Hedgehoppers have opened for Unit Four Plus Two, The Hollies and The Kinks among others.

November (22) The Hedgehoppers make their first appearance in Cambridge, playing at the Alley.

December (26) The band performs at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Cascades.

1965

February (7) The Hedgehoppers play at the Alley Club in Cambridge.

March (6) The Hedgehoppers appear at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.

(14) The band returns to the Alley Club for another show.

April (1) The group performs at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.

(17) The Hedgehoppers open for The Primitives at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge.

May  (8) The group plays at the Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge.

(22) The Hedgehoppers open for Brian Poole & The Tremeloes at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge.

July (3) The band returns for another show at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.

(17) The Hedgehoppers appear at the Dorothy Ballroom in Cambridge with Bob Ludman and His Orchestra, The Seminoles and Ben Elliot and The Klan. Alan Laud (b. 13 March 1946, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire), who is a civilian living near the RAF base takes over from Cockayne on rhythm guitar after meeting the musicians in a local pub.

August The Hedgehoppers are playing at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge when they are spotted by Trinity College student Kenneth King (aka Jonathan King), who is working as a producer for Decca Records through his own company “Jonathan King Enterprises”. The aspiring producer is about to release the single “Everyone’s Gone To The Moon” under his recording name Jonathan King and approaches The Hedgehoppers to see if they will record another of his songs – “It’s Good News Week”. King, who is keener on becoming a producer than a singer, suggests that they add the Anonymous tag so that they can keep their fan base but protect their anonymity from the RAF, which is unaware of the recording. The band records “It’s Good News Week” under the musical direction of Arthur Greenslade, who adds session players, including guitarist “Big” Jim Sullivan, to back Tinsley on the track.

(14) Still billed as The Hedgehoppers, they play at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.

September King’s tongue-in-cheek protest song, “It’s Good News Week” backed by “Afraid of Love” is released. The single’s success generates a huge amount of publicity but also creates problems with the RAF, which has not given the musicians the proper authority to find employment outside the Armed Forces. Hedgehoppers Anonymous make their debut TV appearance on ITV’s Ready Steady Go! They also appear on BBC TV’s Top of The Pops to plug the single.

(11) Billed as The Hedgehoppers, they play at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.

West End Promotion Ad, New Musical Express, October 1965
West End Promotion Ad, New Musical Express, October 1965

October Tinsley successfully submits an application to the RAF for a discharge.

(1) Still billed as The Hedgehoppers, they appear at Bassingbourn Village College, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire with The Hornets.

(15) NME reports that Dash, Honeyball and Stewart have applied to the RAF for a discharge but it is not known whether these will be accepted. Behind the scenes, London session musician Glenn Martin (b. 22 January 1946, Wembley Park, Middlesex), who is the resident drummer at the Ad-Lib club and has been playing with Ayshea Brough, takes over from Leslie Dash for live gigs while the drummer tries to gain a discharge.

Tour dates announced, New Musical Express, October 15, 1965
Tour dates announced, New Musical Express, October 15, 1965

(29) With Martin onboard, the new line up plays at the YOR Club, Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Boys in support . On the same day, NME reports that the future of Hedgehoppers Anonymous is still in the balance as it is uncertain whether Dash, Honeyball and Stewart’s applications will be accepted. Soon after, Stewart successfully gains a release from the RAF. Meanwhile, the group is forced to turn down an offer to join the Gene Pitney tour because of the travelling involved.

Opportunity to open for Gene Pitney lost New Musical Express, October 29, 1965
Opportunity to open for Gene Pitney lost New Musical Express, October 29, 1965

(30) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at Altrincham Stamford Hall in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

(31) The group makes an appearance at Peter Stringfellow’s Sheffield Mojo club, Yorkshire.

November (2) The band performs on Rediffusion’s Five O’Clock Funfair.

(3) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the Kingston Cellar in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.

(4) They perform at the Swindon Locarno Ballroom in Swindon, Wiltshire.

(5) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at Leighton Baths, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

(6) “It’s Good News Week” peaks at UK #5 and also reaches #48 in the US Billboard chart. On the same day, the band are billed to appear at Rawtenstall Astoria, Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

(7) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at the Carlton in Slough, Berkshire.

(8) The following day, the band plays at the Atalanta Ballroom in Woking, Surrey.

(10) Following a show at High Wycombe Town Hall the previous day, the group performs at the Stevenage Locarno in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

(11) They perform at Wisbech Rose and Crown, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

(13) The Grantham Journal lists the band appearing at Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire with Them Dogs and The Scene.

(16) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at an All-nighter session at the Cavern in Liverpool with The Baskerville Hounds, The Verbs, The Drifting Sands, The Richmond Group, The Dresdens, The Almost Blues, The Harpos, The Masterminds and The Fourmost.

(18) The band plays at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London.

Leslie and Ray go "part-time"New Musical Express, November 26, 1965
Leslie and Ray go “part-time”New Musical Express, November 26, 1965

(26) NME reports that Dash and Honeyball are likely to be temporarily replaced because their applications to buy themselves out of the RAF have been turned down a second time. The magazine goes on to say that Dash and Honeyball will return to RAF Wittering today and their availability for appearances – as close as next week – is still uncertain. The band’s agent Chris Peers tells NME that the two musicians will work on as many dates as possible, but for some bookings replacements will have to be brought in. Behind the scenes, however, Dash decides not to continue with the band and will later move out to South Africa where he currently resides. Glenn Martin takes over but will not be officially announced as Dash’s replacement until December. On the same day, the band appears Hillside Ballroom, Hereford with The Alan Walker Group .

1965, from left: Ray Honeyball, Alan Laud, Mick Tinsley, and John Stewart
1965, from left: Ray Honeyball, Alan Laud, Mick Tinsley, and John Stewart

December Decca rush releases a second single to capitalise on the success of “It’s Good News Week” but the Kenneth King written “Don’t Push Me” c/w “Please Don’t Hurt Your Heart for Me” sells poorly. Like Dash, Ray Honeyball cannot get a release from the RAF. Former Von Dykes bass player Lee Jackson is brought in and put on a retainer. The idea is that he will fill in for Honeyball whenever the bass player cannot honour an engagement. While on a retainer, Jackson plays some shows with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Lineup after late '65, from left: Tom Fox, Glenn Martin, Mike Tinsley, Alan Laud and John Stewart
Lineup after late ’65, from left: Tom Fox, Glenn Martin, Mike Tinsley, Alan Laud and John Stewart

(1) The band plays at Stourbridge Town Hall, Stourbridge, West Midlands.

(2) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at the Blue Moon club in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with The Alan Walker Group.

(3) They appear at Trowbridge Town Hall in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

(4) The group plays Redhill Market Hall in Redhill, Surrey.

Photo: Boyfriend, 4 December 1965

(6) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at Bridgewater Town Hall, Bridgewater, Somerset.

(8) They play at Kidderminster Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

(11) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at Nelson Imperial in Nelson, Lancashire.

(12) The group plays a show at Manchester Oasis club.

(16) The band appears at the Pier Pavilion in Worthing, West Sussex.

Keith Jackson and Glen Martin replace Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash New Musical Express, December 17, 1965
Keith Jackson and Glen Martin replace Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash, New Musical Express, December 17, 1965

(17) NME announces that Keith Jackson and Glenn Martin have formally replaced Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash who have been unable to obtain discharges from the RAF.

(22) Record Mirror announces the new line up, introducing Lee Jackson. However, Jackson only appears in a few publicity photos before finding work elsewhere. He subsequently joins Gary Farr & The T-Bones and then The Nice. Londoner Tom Fox takes over on bass from The Beat Boys and Barry Edwards and The Semi-Tones.

(27) The group plays at Bath Pavilion, according to Western Scene.

1966

January Having signed up to Chris Peers Promotions the previous year, the new line up starts to pick up steady work around the country.

(15) Boyfriend magazine lists the group appearing at the George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire.

(21-26) Boyfriend magazine reports that the band is touring Scotland.

(29) Boyfriend magazine has the group playing at the Town Hall in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.

April Martin suggests that Hedgehoppers Anonymous cut a version of Chip Taylor’s “Wild Thing”, which is recorded and prepared for release. However, according to Martin, Kenneth King is not convinced about the song’s merit and persuades the musicians to record “Baby (You’re My Everything)” (a Little Jerry Williams ballad that Jonathan King had the rights to) instead. Shortly afterwards, The Troggs top the charts with their own version of “Wild Thing”, allegedly after hearing Hedgehoppers Anonymous’ unreleased version. However, Jonathan King relates “the demo of Wild Thing was first played to me by the publishers; I loved the song and allowed the guys to play on it but their version wasn’t even as good as the demo so I passed and the song was given to Larry Page who produced it with the Troggs.”

(3) The Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette advertises the group appearing at the Royal Lido in Prestayn with The Raynes.

(22) The Southend Standard lists the band playing at the Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with Bubbles & Co.

Photo: Mirabelle, 23 April 1966 issue

May Having appeared on ITV’s Ready Steady Go! Hedgehoppers Anonymous return with a third single, “Baby (You’re My Everything)” c/w “Remember”. The band’s poppy sound, however, increasingly sounds dated, and the single does not chart.

June (10) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the California Ballroom, Dunstable with The Felders.

(11) Melody Maker reports that Mick Tinsley has been ordered to rest for a week after being injured by fans at the Star Rink Ballroom, West Hartlepool last weekend. The band appears on BBC Radio’s Saturday Club this weekend.

July (23) They appear at St Mary’s Hall in Bognor Regis, West Sussex with Listen.

Hedgehoppers Anonymous Decca PS Denmark Daytime That's the Time

August (26) The band moves towards a more harder-edge rock sound, which culminates in the mod/freakbeat classic “Daytime” which is backed by “That’s The Time”. Unfortunately, the single is not a chart success. “Daytime” is an adaption of Les 5 Gentlemen’s “Dis-Nous Dylan” (originally co-written by Jean Fredenucci of Les 5 Gentlemen and T. Saunders) with English lyrics by John Stewart. Les 5 Gentlemen also record “Daytime” with Stewart’s lyrics for a release on the Major Minor label as Darwin’s Theory.

September (10) Hedgehoppers Anonymous record for BBC Radio’s Saturday Club with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Fortunes and Glen Dale.

Photo: Mirabelle, 15 October 1966 issue

October The band plays at the Lyceum Ballroom in London on a bill that includes Tom Jones.

(12) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at Tiles nightclub on Oxford Street in central London with The Excels.

(15) The band plays at Leyton Baths Hall, Leyton, east London with The Plague.

(22)  Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford with The Day-Stroms and The Tone Benders.

November (26) The band appears at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Kingpins.

December (9) Final single Alan Laud’s “Stop Press” c/w “Little Memories” is another chart failure.

(17) Hedgehoppers Anoymous perform at Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks with The Addix.

(23) The band appears Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Zombies and The Teen Team.

1967

January (6) The band plays at the Winter Gardens, Droitwich, Worcestershire.

(7) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at the Marine Ballroom, Morecambe Pier, Lancashire.

New Musical Express, January 14, 1967
New Musical Express, January 14, 1967

(14) NME reports that the current Hedgehoppers Anonymous will split up on 11 February but that Martin and Fox are planning to form a new group, which will probably use the same name. On the same day, Mike Tinsley releases his debut solo single, “Let It Be Me”, produced by Kenneth King, on Decca. The publication also announces that Alan Laud and John Stewart will be forming a trio with ex-Overlanders’ member Terry Widlake but the collaboration never happens. Alan Laud later moves to Spain where he runs a bar in Torremolinos while John Stewart, who is intent on pursuing a career as a songwriter, subsequently relocates to the United States. He currently works in a recording studio in Tennessee. Rather than keep the Hedgehoppers Anonymous name going, Glenn Martin and Tom Fox get a job with blues singer Kenny Barnard, who is opening at the Bag O’Nails club after resident band The Peddlers have moved on.

(22) Martin (on his 21st birthday) and Fox back Kenny Barnard at the Bag O’Nails club. Soon after The Peddlers return to the Bag O’Nails and Barnard’s band finds itself without any work. The musicians go their separate ways. Tom Fox disappears from the music scene but allegedly commits suicide years later.

February (2) The band is advertised to play at the Embassy Suite, Thursday Club, Colchester, Essex with Hap and Unit 4.

(11) Hedgehoppers Anonymous officially disbands.

March Having moved to Halifax, West Yorkshire in February, Martin revives The Hedgehoppers Anonymous name and brings in lead guitarist Ian Atkinson from The Morton Fraser Harmonica Gang. Atkinson recommends his friend from Leeds, bass player Howard Livett. Keyboard player Vincent Crane joins for a few gigs but soon leaves to form The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Atkinson contacts his friend organist/singer Chris Lazenby, who has previously worked with the guitarist in Bradford band, The Del Rio 4. They also recruit a second lead guitar player from Oldham. The new version mixes band originals – “It’s Good News Week”, “Don’t Push Me” and “Daytime” with covers material.

Hedgehoppers, summer 67 photo with Pete, Ian Atkinson, Glenn Martin, Chris Lazenby and Howard Livett
Hedgehoppers, summer 67 photo with Pete, Ian Atkinson, Glenn Martin, Chris Lazenby and Howard Livett

April The new line up embarks on a busy schedule of nation-wide gigs that takes in venues as far flung as Glasgow and Leicester.

May (29) The Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette lists the band playing at the Royal Lido in Prestayn with The Raynes.

June (23) The group performs at St Benedict’s Club, Sketty, Swansea, south Wales with The Outer Limits.

August Lazenby and the second lead guitarist depart when Martin convinces original singer Mick Tinsley to return to front the band. Lazenby joins the house band at Butlins in Minehead and reunites with Glenn Martin in 1970 when their band works the summer and winter seasons at the Butlins Hotels in Cliftonville near Margate, Kent.

(18) With Tinsley back onboard, the group performs at the Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with The Expressions.

(25) The  band plays at the Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with The Move.

September (16) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear the Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Knack .

Hedgehoppers Anonymous photo Sweden 1967
Sweden, 1967, from left: Ian Atkinson, Mick Tinsley, Glenn Martin and Howard Livett

October Hedgehoppers Anonymous featuring Mick Tinsley, Glenn Martin, Howard Livett and Ian Atkinson embark on a short tour of Sweden and Lapland.

(6) While playing at the Cue Club in Gothenburg, Stoke-on-Trent band The Colour Supplement open the show. The band’s singer Phil Tunstall will join a new, completely unrelated, version of Hedgehoppers Anonymous in December 1968.

Swedish tour, 1967 photo
Swedish tour, 1967, from left: Mick Tinsley, Howard Livett, Glenn Martin and Ian Atkinson

(18) Liseberg Pop In Club in Gothenburg.
Hedgehoppers Anonymous Pop In Liseberg

November On their return to the UK, Tinsley resumes a solo career. He later becomes a co-writer for songs covered by Joe Dolan and Kelly Marie. In the late 1960s/early 1970s, Livett works on the Mecca scene with the band Huckleberry and spends over 10 years playing the Leeds City Varieties but passes away in August 2005. Martin joins Sandie Shaw’s backing group, The Streamliners, featuring Stoke-on-Trent musicians Tony Kaye (guitar), Dave Birkenhead (organ) and John Askey (bass). While with Sandie Shaw & The Streamliners, Martin will appear at the MIDEM Festival in Cannes in January 1968. When Martin leaves The Streamliners in February, Tony Kaye decides to use the Hedgehoppers Anonymous name for a new, completely unrelated, band, which with a modified line up will continue into the early 1970s, recording in South Africa as Hedgehoppers. Mick Tinsley sings “Wrap Me in Love” co-written with Peter Hawkins of Pickettywitch as a soloist for the UK at the Yamaha World Song Festival in Tokyo 1976. He co-writes songs with Peter Yellowstone for Joe Dolan and Kelly Marie.

2009

October Tinsley’s solo album My Surival is released on the British Academy Songwriters Composers Authors’ label. The album is produced by Tony Swain, who has previously worked with Spandau Ballet, Alison Moyet and Bananarma among others.

Mick Tinsley, May 2010
Mick Tinsley, May 2010

2010

June Prism Leisure Records re-release two CDs featuring Tinsley singing on the songs “Songs That Won The War” and “English Street Party” recorded in the 1990s. Glenn Martin, who has worked as a session drummer over the last 40 years is drum chair at the Surrey Jazz Orchestra.

December (4) Tinsley will be appearing at the Amersham Rock and Roll Club with Chris Farlowe, Vanity Fair, The Searchers and Honeybus.

Sources:

The Best of The Cellars – The Story of the Cavern Club by Phil Thompson, Tempus Publishing Limited, 2007.
New Musical Express, 1 October 1965 (page 9), 15 October 1965 (pages 9 and 13), 29 October 1965 (pages 6, 9 and 10), 26 November 1965 (page 9), 17 December 1965 (page 6), 14 January 1967 (page 8).

Many thanks to Mick Tinsley, Glenn Martin, Jonathan King, Chris Lazenby, Mick Cockayne, Lee Jackson, Jenni Livett, Christopher Hjort, Tertius Louw, Paul Green and Tony Walter for providing further details. Thank you to Paul Tinsley for the photo of Mick Tinsley in May 2010. Thanks also to Samuel Coomans for one of the sleeve scans and to Hans Olof Gottfridsson.

Mike Tinsley’s “My Survival” is available on the BASCA Academy Recording Digital label and can be purchased on Amazon.

Newspapers including Cambridge News, the Warrington Guardian and the South Wales Evening Post.

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

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