Tag Archives: Viv Prince

The Pretty Things’ gigs 1963-1969

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.

Photo may be subject to copyright. The Pretty Things, spring 1965

Formed in September 1963, The Pretty Things’ original line up comprised:

 Phil May (lead vocals)

Dick Taylor (lead guitar)

Brian Pendelton (rhythm guitar)

John Stax (bass/harmonica)

Pete Kirtley (drums)

Around November 1963, Viv Andrews (aka Viv Broughton), who’d been working with David Bowie in The Hooker Brothers replaced Kirtley.

1964

3 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mike Cotton Band (Rieks Korte’s research)

7 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Acker Bilk, Kenny Walsh & Walsh Band (Rieks Korte’s research)

9 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mike Cotton Band (Rieks Korte’s research)

14 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Douggie Richford’s London Jazzmen (Rieks Korte’s research)

16 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Bob Wallis’ Storeyville Jazzmen (Rieks Korte’s research)

21 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Monty Sunshine’s Jazz Band (Rieks Korte’s research)

23 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions (Rieks Korte’s research)

28 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Jimmy Powell, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Zoot Money, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Animals, The Yardbirds and others (Rieks Korte’s research) Cyril Davies benefit concert

30 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

4 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)

6 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Alex Harvey’s Soul Band and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)

13 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)

18 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)

20 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)

21 February 1964 – Ricky Tick, Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

25 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)

27 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Record Mirror)

28 February 1964 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

 

3 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)

5 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Alex Harvey Soul Band and The Wes Minster Five (Rieks Korte’s research)

12 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and Gene Latter & The Cousins (Record Mirror)

17 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

24 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with John Lee and The Groundhogs (Record Mirror/Clapham News)

Photo may be subject to copyright

30 March 1964 – Starlite Club, Penge, Kent (Clapham Advertiser)

31 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Record Mirror)

 

7 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Falling Leaves (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright

13 April 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Express)

14 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mark Leeman Five and The Tridents (Record Mirror)

15 April 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)

17 April 1964 – Ricky Tick, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

19 April 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Record Mirror)

Record Mirror’s 18 April issue, page 8 has a picture of the Viv Andrews’ line up

21 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo and The Impacts (Record Mirror)

24 April 1964 – Ricky Ticky, Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire (Record Mirror)

25 April 1964 – Gig in Ruislip, Middlesex (Record Mirror)

26 April 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Record Mirror)

Thanks to John Warburg for sending. Source: Record Mirror. Photo may be subject to copyright

Record Mirror reported that The Pretty Things played at the 100 Club every Tuesday from 28 April to 16 June

Towards the end of April 1964, Viv Prince took over from Viv Andrews on drums

28 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo and The Muleskinners (Rieks Korte’s research)

29 April 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)

30 April 1964 – ABC Croydon, Croydon, Surrey with Billy Fury, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, The John Barry 7 and The Zephyrs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)

 

1 May 1964 – Gig in Crawley, West Sussex (possibly Starlight Ballroom) (Record Mirror)

Record Mirror reported in its 2 May issue that Viv Prince was on drums but the picture shows Viv Andrews

2 May 1964 – Ricky Tick, Pearce Hall, Maidenhead, Berks (Record Mirror/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

3 May 1964 – Chertsey, Surrey (most likely the  Riverside Club, Cricketer’s Hotel) (Record Mirror)

4 May 1964 – Northampton R&B Club, Embassy Ballroom, Northampton (Record Mirror)

5 May 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

6 May 1964 – Orford Jazz Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Record Mirror)

7 May 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Record Mirror)

8 May 1964 – Golders Green Refectory, Golders Green, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)

9 May 1964 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Record Mirror)

10 May 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 May 1964 – Gig in Slough, Berkshire (Record Mirror)

12 May 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Harps (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo: John Warburg. Photo may be subject to copyright

13 May 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)

14 May 1964 – British Legion Hall (Jaybee Hall), South Harrow, Middlesex (Record Mirror/Rieks Korte’s research)

16 May 1964 – Rendevous, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Beat Monthly)

16 May 1964 – Embers Ballroom, Harlow, Herts (Rieks Korte’s research) This seems very unlikely and is missing from Beat Monthly listing

17 May 1964 – Orford Jazz Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Record Mirror)

18 May 1964 – Ricky Tick, St John’s Hall, Reading, Berkshire (Record Mirror/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

19 May 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Harps (Record Mirror)

20 May 1964 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Record Mirror)

21 May 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Record Mirror)

22 May 1964 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey (Aldershot News)

22 May 1964 – Ricky Tick, Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

23 May 1964 – Bure Club, Mudeford, Dorset (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

24 May 1964 – Olympia, Reading, Berkshire (Beat Monthly)

25 May 1964 – Northampton R&B Club, Embassy Ballroom, Northampton (Record Mirror)

26 May 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Harps (Rieks Korte’s research)

27 May 1964 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Beat Monthly)

28 May 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

29 May 1964 – Mercers Arms, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

30 May 1964 – Rivieria, St Austell, Cornwall (Beat Monthly) This seems implausible considering the geographical distance from Coventry and then to Bexley the next day

31 May 1964 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, Kent (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright

1 June 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Express)

2 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)

3 June 1964 – Forum, Oxford (Beat Monthly)

4 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

5 June 1964 – Ricky Ticky, High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

6 June 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Johnny & The Starliners (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

8 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London (Beat Monthly)

9 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)

10 June 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright

11 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

14 June 1964 – Ricky Tick, Clewer Mead, Windsor, Berkshire (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

16 June 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with Them (aka Themselves) (Dave Gale research/Kingston & Malden Borough News)

18 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

19 June 1964 – Gig in Brighton, Sussex (Beat Monthly)

20 June 1964 – Gig in Southampton, Hants (Beat Monthly)

Record Mirror and Beat Monthly reported that The Pretty Things were on a Manchester area tour from 21-27 June 1964

28 June 1964 – Scala, Dartford, Kent (Beat Monthly)

29 June 1964 – Gig in Bridgwater, Somerset (Beat Monthly) This gig seems unlikely

30 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

1 July 1964 – Le Disque A Go Go, Bournemouth, Dorset (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

3 July 1964 – Hoveton, Wroxham, Norfolk with Rod Harvey & The Drifting Strangers (Eastern Evening News) Beat Monthly has a gig in Wrexham, north Wales on this date

4 July 1964 –  Gig in Rawtenstall (Beat Monthly)

5 July 1964 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, Kent (Record Mirror)

6 July 1964 –  Gig in Harrow, Middlesex (most likely Big Beat Club) (Beat Monthly)

7 July 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Farinas (Rieks Korte’s research)

8 July 1964 – Gig in Norwich, Norfolk (Beat Instrumental)

9 July 1964 – Gig in Southsea, Hants (Beat Instrumental)

10 July 1964 – Gig in Plymouth, Devon (Beat Instrumental)

11 July 1964 – Berkeley Grill Crawdaddy Club, Coventry with The Sorrows (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

16 July 1964 – Majestic, Hanley, Staffordshire (Beat Monthly)

17 July 1964 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with The Missing Links (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

18 July 1964 – Assembly, Manchester (Beat Monthly)

19 July 1964 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex (Beat Monthly)

20 July 1964 – Big Beat Club, Harrow, Middlesex (Beat Monthly)

21 July 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Farinas (Rieks Korte’s research)

22 July 1964 – Gig in Nottingham (Beat Monthly)

23 July 1964 – McIlroy’s Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

24 July 1964 – Majestic, Crewe, Cheshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

25 July 1964 – Caribbean Club, Radcaster, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

26 July 1964 – Belle Vue, Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research) Beat Monthly has the band playing at the Bromley Court Hotel in Bromley, Kent on this date

27 July 1964 – Gig in Edinburgh, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)

28 July 1964 – Public Hall, Wallington, Surrey (Rieks Korte’s research)

30 July 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Rockin Henri & The Hayseeds (East Kent Times & Mail)

31 July 1964 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire with Reg Bassett & His Orchestra and Singers (Crewe Chronicle)

31 July 1964 – Royal Hotel, Lowestoft, Suffolk (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

1 August 1964 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

2 August 1964 – Gig in Ryde, Isle of Wight (probably Disco Blue) (Rieks Korte’s research)

3 August 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk (Rieks Korte’s research)

6 August 1964 – El Toro, Swiss Cottage, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)

7 August 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Johnny Kaye & The Kossacks and Brent Peters & The Chessmen (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

8 August 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Federals (Essex County Standard)

9 August 1964 – Gig in Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 August 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

12 August 1964 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Bluesounds and Mel Fear & The Fantastic Phantoms (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)

13 August 1964 – Gig in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

14 August 1964 – Gig in Bradford, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

15 August 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks (Bletchley District Gazette)

16 August 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Beat Monthly) Viv Andrews returned for a one-off gig covering for Viv Prince at this venue but it may not have been on this date

18 August 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

19 August 1964 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) First visit to Newcastle

21 August 1964 – Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

22 August 1964 – Town Hall, Chippenham, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

23 August 1964 – Cavern, Manchester (Beat Monthly)

Photo may be subject to copyright

25 August 1964 – Orford Jazz Cellar, St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with The Bluebottles (with Mike Patto) (Eastern Evening News) Beat Monthly has the band playing in Southampton on this date

26 August 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Beat Monthly)

Photo may be subject to copyright

27 August 1964 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex with The Detours (Worthing Gazette)

28 August 1964 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Monthly)

Photo may be subject to copyright

29 August 1964 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire with The Blobs (Cambridgeshire Times)

30 August 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, Sussex with The Beat Merchants (Evening Argus)

Photo may be subject to copyright

31 August 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Rocking Berries, The Pickwicks, The Continentals, The Tea Time Four, The Delcounts, The Doones and Beats Limited (Lynn News)

 

1 September 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

4 September 1964 – Floral Hall, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Monthly) This was most likely nearby Southport

7 September 1964 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

8 September 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

Thanks to Rolf Hannet for providing. Source: Western Scene. Photo may be subject to copyright

9 September 1964 – Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)

Photo may be subject to copyright

10 September 1964 – Guildhall, Plymouth, Devon (Cornish Guardian)

Photo may be subject to copyright

11 September 1964 – Top Ten Club, Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Shaun & The Shondells (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

Photo may be subject to copyright

12 September 1964 – Top Ten Club, New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with Shaun & The Shondells (Cornish Guardian)

13 September 1964 – Gig in Clacton, Essex (Beat Monthly)

14 September 1964 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Western Scene)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 September 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, Surrey with Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

26 September 1964 – Gig in Lincoln (Beat Instrumental)

27 September 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research)

29 September 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

30 September 1964 – Gig in Leicester (Beat Instrumental)

 

1 October 1964 –Beat City, central London (Beat Instrumental)

2 October 1964 – Queen’s, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)

3 October 1964 – Gig in Hinckley, Leicestershire (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

5 October 1964 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London with The Bo Street Runners (Clapham Advertiser)

6 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Record Mirror)

13 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

15-19 October 1964 – Tour of Scotland (Beat Instrumental)

23 October 1964 – Gig in Milford Haven, Wales (Beat Instrumental)

27 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)

29 October 1964 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire with Bracer Ball (Luton News)

30 October 1964 – Co-op Hall, Peckham, south London (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

31 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Freemen (Beat Instrumental/Cambridge News)

 

3 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright

6 November 1964 – Regal, Edmonton, Middlesex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Tottenham Weekly Herald) (cancelled)

Photo may be subject to copyright

Chuck Berry replaced P J Proby who cancelled according to Rieks Korte. However, Julien Brice Mansencal says the entire tour was subsequently cancelled as Berry couldn’t get out of existing commitments.

7 November 1964 – Granada, Slough, Berkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

8 November 1964 – Hippodrome, Birmingham Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

10 November 1964 – Odeon, Leicester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

11 November 1964 – Rialto York, North Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

12 November 1964 – Odeon Bolton, Bolton, Greater Manchester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

13 November 1964 – Odeon Newcaste, Newcastle upon Tyne with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

15 November 1964 – Palace, Manchester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

16 November 1964 – Granada, Rugby, Warwickshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

17 November 1964 – Gaumont, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

18 November 1964 – Odeon, Liverpool with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

6 November 1964 – Tower Ballroom, New Brighton (Beat Instrumental)

7 November 1964 – Palais, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental)

9 November 1964 – Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, central London (Beat Instrumental)

13 November 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)

19 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Hell-Raisers (Rieks Korte’s research) Beat Instrumental lists Olympia, Reading, Berkshire on this date

20 November 1964 – Gaumont, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

Photo may be subject to copyright

20-21 November 1964 – Empire Pool, Wembley, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Migil Five, The Miami Show Band, Susan Maughan, Lorne Lesley, Julia Rogers, Gene Vincent and The Hustlers (Clapham Advertiser)

21 November 1964 – Town Hall, Loughborough (Beat Instrumental)

22 November 1964 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

Advert for concert that was cancelled. Photo may be subject to copyright

23 November 1964 – Brixton Granada, Brixton, south London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knights, Tea Time 4, Don Spencer, The Leroys, Kim Weston and Earl Van Dyke Quartet (South East London Mercury) (cancelled)

24 November 1964 – Gauount, Bournmouth, Dorset with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

25 November 1964 – Gaumont State, Kilburn, north London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

27 November 1964 – Odeon, Romford, Essex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

28 November 1964 – Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

29 November 1964 – Hippodrome, Brighton, Sussex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)

 

1 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Rieks Korte’s research)

2-7 December 1964 – Tour of Scotland (Beat Instrumental)

10 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Westsiders (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 December 1964 – Leicester University (Beat Instrumental)

14 December 1964 – The Tower Ballroom, New Brighton with The Others (Liverpool Echo)

15 December 1964 – Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne with The Rockin’ Berries, Julie Rodgers and The Poets (Newcastle Evening Echo)

17 December 1964 – Olympia, Reading, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 December 1964 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford with The Ups ‘N’ Downs (Gloucester Citizen)

19 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Westsiders (Record Mirror)

22 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Knight (Record Mirror)

29 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Knight (Record Mirror)

31 December 1964 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright. The Pretty Things, spring 1965

1965

5 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright

7 January 1965 – Pier Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex with The Teenbeats (Worthing Herald/Worthing Gazette)

Photo may be subject to copyright

9 January 1965 – Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire with Woody Allen & The Challengers and Maniax (Grantham Journal)

Photo may be subject to copyright

12 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Record Mirror)

Photo may be subject to copyright

16 January 1965 – Leyton Baths, Leyton, Essex (Walthamstow Guardian)

19 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Crescents (Record Mirror)

20 January 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)

21 January 1965 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Western Scene)

26 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Beat Instrumental)

27 January 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

29 January 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with Mike Fayne & The Fontains (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

30 January 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Spooks (Sussex Evening Express)

31 January 1965 – Granada Woolwich, Woolwich, southeast London with The Rockin Berries, The Merseybeats and Julie Rogers (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

 

1 February 1965 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

2 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Loose Ends (Melody Maker)

3 February 1965 – Majestic Hull, Hull (Record Mirror) According to Beat Instrumental, the band toured Ireland from 3-7 February but this seems unlikely

5 February 1965 – Bolton Boneyard, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Record Mirror)

6 February 1965 – Manchester New Century Hall, Manchester and Manchester University, Manchester (Record Mirror)

7 February 1965 – Wembley Starlite, Wembley, west London (Record Mirror)

8 February 1965 – Newcastle Majestic, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Record Mirror)

9 February 1965 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

11 February 1965 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with The Beat Traders (Western Gazette)

11 February 1965 – Gig in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (may not be California Ballroom) (Beat Instrumental) This seems unlikely

13 February 1965 – Gig in Scarborough (Beat Instrumental)

19 February 1965 – Gig in Tiverley, the Mumbles, south Wales (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

22 February 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Berkshire with The Troggs (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette) Beat Instrumental has the Baths, Eltham, Kent but this is very unlikely with these two gigs

22 February 1965 – Ricky Tick, Pearce Hall, Maidenhead, Berks (Buck Free Press/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

26 February 1965 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with Dean Prince & The Dukes (Gloucester Citizen)

Photo may be subject to copyright

1 March 1965 – Galaxy Club, Community Centre, Basingstoke, Hampshire with The Troggs (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

2 March 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

Photo may be subject to copyright

3 March 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Newport, south Wales (South Wales Echo)

6 March 1965 – Florida Rooms, Brighton, Sussex with The Who, The-Bones and Johnny B Great (Evening Argus)

6 March 1965 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Spidermen, The Squad and Rita (Cheshire Observer/Warrington Guardian)

Photo may be subject to copyright

11 March 1965 – Haslemere Hall, Haslemere, Surrey with The James Crow Group (Farnham Herald)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 March 1965 – Smethwick Baths, Smethwick, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

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18 March 1965 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Couriers (Birmingham Evening Mail)

19 March 1965 – Big Beat Nite Out, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, Surrey with The Kinks, The Animals, The Caravelles, Dodie West and Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)

21 March 1965 – Empire Pool, Wembley, northwest London with Dave Berry & The Cruisers, The Searchers, Kenny Lynch, Elkie Brooks, The Four Pennies, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, Them, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Tommy Quickly, The Fourmost, Lulu & The Luvvers, The Merseybeats, PJ Proby, The Zombies and Kenny Ball (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

22 March 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with The Kinks, The Animals, Screaming Lord Sutch, Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs and Dodie West (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

2 April 1965 – Heaven & Hell, Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)

3 April 1965 – Corn Exchnage, Cambridge (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

4 April 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Melody Maker)

7 April 1965 – Gig in Rochdale, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)

8 April 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester with Just Four Men (Stockport County Express)

Photo may be subject to copyright

10 April 1965 – Cubiklub, St Patrick’s Hall, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with The Motown Set (Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian)

10 April 1965 – Gig in Wigan, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 April 1965 – New Theatre, Oxford with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, The Artwoods, The Ivy League, Elkie Brooks, Syd & George, The Chapters and The Guards (Oxford Mail) This looks like a tour so the other artists may also have been on the rest of the tour with The Pretty Things and Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders

17 April 1965 – Spalding Ballroom, Spalding, Lincolnshire with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 April 1965 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester with The Kinks and six other acts (Northampton Chronicle)

19 April 1965 – Gig in Scarborough, North Yorkshire with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Rieks Korte’s research) Unlikely this took place as they were in the Netherlands

19 April 1965 – Blokker Festival, the Netherlands, broadcasted on Dutch Television (Robert Gerretsen research)

24 April 1965 – Gig in Gloucester, Gloucestershire with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)

25 April 1965 – ABC Northampton, Northampton with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)

27 April 1965 – ABC Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)

28 April 1965 – Savoy, Exeter, Devon with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)

Photo may be subject to copyright

29 April 1965 – ABC Southampton, Southampton Hampshire with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage/Southern Echo)

30 April 1965 – ABC Croydon, Croydon, south London with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)

 

1 May 1965 – ABC Dover, Dover, Kent with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)

2 May 1965 – ABC Harrow, Harrow, west London with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)

4 May 1965 – ABC Hull, Hull with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)

5 May 1965 – Gig in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)

6 May 1965 – ABC Carlisle, Carlisle, Cumbria with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)

8 May 1965 – Theatre Royal, Norwich, Norfolk with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)

9 May 1965 – Colston Hall, Bristol with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)

13 May 1965 – Marquee, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

14 May 1965 – Top Ten Club, Town Hall, Liskeard, Cornwall with The Blue Beats and People (Cornish Guardian)

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15 May 1965 – Top Ten Club, New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with The Blue Beats and People (Cornish Guardian)

Photo may be subject to copyright

17 May 1965 – Town Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

18 May 1965 – Majestic, Newport, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)

19 May 1965 – Gig in Porthcawl, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)

20 May 1965 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research) Donovan’s drummer was Skip Alan who would replace Viv Prince in November. The 23 May date suggests there were other artists on the tour

21 May 1965 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research)

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23 May 1965 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Donovan, The New Faces, Unit 4 Plus 2, John L Watson & The Hummelflugs and Chris Carlson (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/) Western Gazette just has Donovan and Unit 4 Plus 2

23 May 1965 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

24 May 1965 – YOR Club, Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Notions (Warrington Guardian)

25 May 1965 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental)

26 May 1965 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)

27 May 1965 – McKilroys, Swindon, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)

29 May 1965 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Steve Chapples research: www.lankybeat.com)

30 May 1965 – Granaada, Brixton, south London (Beat Instrumental)

 

3 June 1965 – Gig in Munich, West Germany (Rieks Korte’s research)

4 June 1965 – Gig in Munich, West Germany (Rieks Korte’s research)

5 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)

6 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)

7 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 June 1965 – Ricky Tick, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Blues Syndicate (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

12 June 1965 – Probably gig in Stamford Hill, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)

Surrey Mirror, 18 June 1965. Photo may be subject to copyright

18 June 1965 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)

19 June 1965 – Drill Hall, Scunthorpe (Beat Instrumental)

20 June 1965 – HMS Daffodil, Portsmouth, Hants (Beat Instrumental)

21 June 1965 – Oxford University, Oxford (Beat Instrumental)

25 June 1965 – New Restaurant, Aere Harwell, Oxfordshire with Candy ‘N’ Cookies, Ricky & The Gamblers and The Outcrowd (Oxford Mail) Rieks Korte has the band performing at Harwell Atomic Energy Establishment on this date and looks like same venue

27 June 1965 – Embassy, Burslem (Beat Instrumental)

28 June 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

3 July 1965 – Cavern, Leicester Square, central London (Beat Instrumental)

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4 July 1965 – Margate Winter Gardens, Margate, Kent with The Nashville Teens and support (East Kent Times & Mail) Rieks Korte also has Screaming Jay Hawkins and The Clayton Squares

9 July 1965 – Embassy, Burslem (Beat Instrumental)

10 July 1965 –  Town Hall, Leek (Beat Instrumental)

11-17 July 1965 – Scottish tour (Beat Instrumental)

18 July 1965 – Gig in Blackpool, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)

23 July 1965 – 32 Club, Harlesden, north London (Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette)

24 July 1965 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with Cops ‘N’ Robbers and The Senates (Essex County Standard)

28 July 1965 – Pool Ballroom, Rhos-on-Sea, Wales with The Motown Sect and The Panzies (North Wales Weekly News)

 

1 August 1965 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The In Crowd (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

2 August 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire with support (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

3 August 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

4 August 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol with support (Western Scene)

7 August 1965 – Winter Gardens, Ventnor, Isle of Wight with Jugs O’Henry and Neil Anderson and Davy Jones & The Lower Third (Poster)

Photo: David Else. Photo may be subject to copyright

7 August 1965 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Neil Anderson (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

The Daily Mirror’s 16 August edition noted that The Pretty Things flew off for their New Zealand tour on Sunday, 15 August after a farewell gig in London (the Ad-Lib Club)

19-30 August 1965 – New Zealand tour with Sandie Shaw, Eden Kane, Tommy Adderley, The Chicks and The Mike Perjanik Showband (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)

31 August-1 September 1965 – Top 20 Club, Auckland, New Zealand with Larry’s Rebels and The Dark Ages (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

5 September 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with De Noyzle (Sussex Evening Express)

10 September 1965 – Lucky Stars Club, Staines, Middlesex (Staines and Egham News)

11 September 1965 – Bure Club, Mudeford, Dorset with Clive Shane & The Avengers (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

15 September 1965 – Top Rank, Preston, Lancashire (Lancashire Evening Post)

16 September 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Stockport County Express)

There’s an article on Viv Prince with a pic in Staines and Egham News 17/9/65, page 13

19 September 1965 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, west London (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

22 September 1965 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire (http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

25 September 1965 – Palais, Peterborough, Cambridgshire (Beat Instrumental)

26 September 1965 – King Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)

27 September 1965 – Dates in south Wales (Beat Instrumental)

30 September 1965 – Astoria Ballroom, Oldham, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)

 

1 October 1965 – Floral Hall, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental) This would have been Southport

Photo may be subject to copyright

2 October 1965 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Raynes (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)

3 October 1965 – Rainbow Theatre, Blackpool, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)

4 October 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle (but which one?) (Beat Instrumental)

Beat Instrumental reports that the band played Danish dates from 7-11 October

9 October 1965 – KB Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)

14 October 1965 – Gig in Chesterfield (Beat Instrumental)

15 October 1965 – Gig in Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental)

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16 October 1965 – Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, Lancashire with The Mustangs and The Saracens (Burnley Express and News)

17 October 1965 – Gig in Doncaster (Beat Instrumental)

18-19 October 1965 – Scottish dates (Beat Instrumental)

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21 October 1965 – Empire Social Club, Neath, south Wales with The Fleetwoods (South Wales Evening Post) This was cancelled when two members fell ill

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21 October 1965 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelly, south Wales with The Smokestacks and The Eyes of Blue (South Wales Evening Post) This was cancelled when two members fell ill

23 October 1965 – Gig in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental)

24 October 1965 – Gig in Southall, west London (most likely Community Centre) (Beat Instrumental)

28 October 1965 – Zars Club, York (Beat Instrumental)

29 October 1965 – Students’ Union, Oxford University (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

30 October 1965 – Bury Palais de Danse, Bury, Greater Manchester plus two supporting groups (Bolton Evening News)

31 October 1965 – New Elizabethan, Manchester (Beat Instrumental)

 

1 November 1965 – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales (Beat Instrumental)

3 November 1965 – Bruce Grove Ballroom, Tottenham, north London (Beat Instrumental)

4 November 1965 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)

5 November 1965 – Gig in Gravesend, Kent (Beat Instrumental)

6 November 1965 – Florida Room, Brighton, Sussex (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

7 November 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Motown Set (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

Skip Alan subbed for Viv Prince on a Scottish tour in November so this seems the most likely date when he took over unless it was the Brighton gig above

8 November 1965 – Town Hall, Iveraray, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)

9 November 1965 – Bobby Jones, Ayr, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)

10 November 1965 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)

12 November 1965 – Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

13 November 1965 – Baths Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)

Photo may be subject to copyright

14 November 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

Photo may be subject to copyright

20 November 1965 – Worsley Civic Hall, Walkden, Worsley, Greater Manchester with Wynder K Frog and The Fendermen (Bolton Evening News)

22 November 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

23 November 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Artwoods (Melody Maker)

Beat Instrumental reports that the band starts a Welsh tour on 25 November

New Musical Express’ 26 November issue reported that Viv Prince had told the music paper that he’d been asked to leave the group. The Pretty Things were on a Scottish tour with a deputy drummer (Skip Alan)

27 November 1965 – Coronation Hall, Ramsgate, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research) East Kent Times & Mail reports that this was rescheduled

New Musical Express’ 3 December issue reported that Viv Prince had agreed to leave. Skip Alan (ex-Them) who had subbed on the recent Scottish tour, was now a permanent member and on tour with the band in Scandinavia.

Billy Harrison, formerly of Them, covered for Dick Taylor when The Pretty Things played in Scandinavia, which may have been this same tour as he flew into Copenhagen.

Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright

Belfast paper, Cityweek, ran an article on former Them guitarist Billy Harrison in its 9 December 1965 issue, page 17 and notes that he has joined The Pretty Things. It adds that he’s currently on tour with them in Holland.

4 December 1965 – British Legion Hall, Coleford, Somerset with David & Jonathan (Somerset Guardian/Western Scene) Six miles from Frome

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5 December 1965 – Mr Smith’s, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

11 December 1965 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The System (East Kent Times & Mail)

Photo may be subject to copyright

14 December 1965 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

17 December 1965 – Farnborough Technical College, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Carnaby and The Generation (Aldershot News)

Photo may be subject to copyright

20 December 1965 – Coed Eva Community College, Cwmbran, south Wales with The Marauders and Four of a Kind (South Wales Argus)

21 December 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Artwoods (Melody Maker)

22 December 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)

31 December 1965 – Matrix Hall, Coventry with The Fairies and The Playboys (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

1966

Photo may be subject to copyright

1 January 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Evening Tribune)

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3 January 1966 – Chatham Town Hall, Chatham, Kent with Blues Syndicate (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)

Photo may be subject to copyright

20 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

21 January 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)

Photo may be subject to copyright

22 January 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Micky Finn’s and Motown Sect (The Star)

25 January 1966 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

28 January 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

29 January 1966 – Locomotive de Pigalle, Paris, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

 

5 February 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Lancashire Evening Post)

6 February 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (John Warburg, probably from Manchester Evening News)

9 February 1966 – Dorchester Court Hotel, Eastbourne, East Sussex (John Warburg)

12-13 February 1966 – Dutch dates (for more information, visit Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)
Photo may be subject to copyright

16 February 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)

18-19 February 1966 – Danish dates (for more information, visit Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/) The Pretty Things played with The Red Squares and Them (the McAuley brothers’ rival version) on 19 February, so it’s possible that this was when Billy Harrison subbed for Dick Taylor (unless it was late 1965)

21 February 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Melody Maker)

23 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

4 March 1966 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire (Andover Advertiser/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)

4 March 1966 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford (North Berks Herald)

5 March 1966 – Connaught Hall, Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire with The Confederates (Poster from John Warburg)

Photo may be subject to copyright

6 March 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Condors (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

9 March 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with The John Lofty Sounds (Yarmouth Mercury)

11 March 1966 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Chet & The Triumphs (Western Scene)

Photo may be subject to copyright

13 March 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Buxton, Derbyshire with Hickory Stix (North Cheshire Standard)

Photo may be subject to copyright

27 March 1966 – Raven Hall, Corby Hotel, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Veldens (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

 

8 April 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)

12 April 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jo Jo Gunne (Melody Maker)

16-17 April 1966 – Star Club, Hamburg, West Germany (Star Club book by Manfred Weissleder and Siegfried E Loch)

21 April 1966 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Junco Partners, The Jazz Board and Hilton K’s (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

 

6 May 1966 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London (Melody Maker)

7 May 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

Photo may be subject to copyright

13 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn Advertiser)

14 May 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Prowlers (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

Photo may be subject to copyright

21 May 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Cryin Shames and The Saracens (Burnley Express & News)

Photo may be subject to copyright

30 May 1966 – Waterside Orchard Club, Hopwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

 

1 June 1966 – Target’s Paul Row, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

8 June 1966 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire (http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

Photo may be subject to copyright

9 June 1966 – Liberal Hall Beat Club, Yeovil, Somerset with Degrees Set and surprise group (Western Gazette)

18 June 1966 – New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with The Missfits and Don Carroll Big Blues Band (Cornish Guardian)

30 June 1966 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire with The Image (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

Photo may be subject to copyright

6 July 1966 – Top Rank Hanley Suite, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

8 July 1966 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

9 July 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Little John & The Giants and Rikki and The Layabouts (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)

10 July 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Germs (Somerset County Gazette)

13 July 1966 – Town Hall, Stourbridge, West Midlands (Rieks Korte’s research)

14 July 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Kimbells, Southsea, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)

15 July 1966 – Town Hall, Welshpool, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)

16 July 1966 – Haggers Cinema, Pembroke, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)

19 July 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)

20 July 1966 – Hedeland Pavilion, Bude, Cornwall (Rieks Korte’s research)

21 July 1966 – Queen’s Hall, Barnstaple, Devon (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

22 July 1966 – Seven Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Astronauts (Express & Star)

Photo may be subject to copyright

23 July 1966 – RAF Association, Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Dicers and The Buccaneers (Express & Echo)

Photo may be subject to copyright

24 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

25 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

26 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

27 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

28 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

29 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

30 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

31 July 1966 – Club Valbonne, Cannes, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

2 August 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Mad Lads and Just Five (Belfast Telegraph/Cityweek) The Pretty Things’ first appearance in Belfast

6-7 August 1966 – Danish dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

13 August 1966 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Cyclones (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

18 August 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Nite People (East Kent Times & Mail)

19 August 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Streatham News)

23 August 1966 – 2+2 Club, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Halifax Music Heritage Trail website)

Photo may be subject to copyright

28 August 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with Sands (Melody Maker)

 

17 September 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Nemkons (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

Photo may be subject to copyright

23 September 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)

24 September 1966 – Alhambra, Paris, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

 

4 October 1966 – BCSU Fresher’s Ball, Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Spectres and Syd Fay (Poster)

5 October 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Peeps (Berkhamsted Gazette & Tring and District News)

Photo may be subject to copyright

7 October 1966 – New Addington Hotel, New Addington, south London with Odds-On (Coulson & Purley Advertiser)

8 October 1966 – Dutch dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

 

6 November 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

11 November 1966 – Bishop, Stoke, Staffordshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

12 November 1966 – 2+2 Club, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Halifax Evening Courier & Guardian) This might be the gig below

12 November 1966 – Malborough Hall, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Halifax Music Heritage Trail website)

13 November 1966 – Gig in Southsea, Hampshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

15 November 1966 – Chinese R&B Jazz Club, Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Bristol Evening Post)

16 November 1966 – Gig in Stroud, Gloucestershire (possibly Church Hall) (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 November 1966 – Floral Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Express Showband (Belfast Telegraph/Cityweek)

Photo: Cityweek, November 1966. Photo may be subject to copyright

19 November 1966 – Gig in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)

24 November 1966 – Hull College of Commerce Students’ Union, Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Birds Groove and Union Course (Hull Daily Mail)

28 November 1966 – Gig in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Rieks Korte’s research)

At some point in December Brian Pendelton dropped out but wasn’t replaced.

4 December 1966 – Roskilde Fjordvilla, Denmark with The Javelins and The Rocking Ghosts (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

16 December 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

23 December 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, west London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)

Photo may be subject to copyright

26 December 1966 – The Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Mack Sound (Melody Maker/Newham, East and West Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)

29 December 1966-2 January 1967 – The band undertakes gigs in Ireland (Disc & Music Echo)

1967

4 January 1967 – Benefit gig at Kensington Town Hall, Kensington, west London with David Garrick (Disc & Music Echo)

5 January 1967 – The band flies to West Germany (Disc & Music Echo)

14 January 1967 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Steve Chapples research: www.lankybeat.com)

22 January 1967 – Danish dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

26 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Lonely Ones (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

27 January 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire with The Liberty Takers (Yorkshire Evening Post)

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28 January 1967 – Crystal Bowl Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire with The Liberty Takers (Wakefield Express/Yorkshire Evening Post)

 

4-5 February 1967 – French dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

14 February 1967 – Speakeasy, Mayfair, central London with Valentine’s Day Massacre (Fabulous 208/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)

25 February 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Fancy Bred (Surrey Advertiser) Unlikely this gig took place

25 February 1967 – Weekend Club, Paris, France with The Moody Blues, Ronnie Bird and Vigon (Website: http://www.webwriter.f2s.com/moody/tourbooks/1967tour.htm)

 

2 March 1967 – Club Radio Caroline, France (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

4 March 1967 – Law Faculty of Assas, Paris, France with The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

26-27 March 1967 – Dutch dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

27 March 1967 – Casino, Scheveningen, the Netherlands (Robert Gerretsen research)

At some point in March, John Stax also departed. He was replaced by two members from The Fenmen after Easter.

Photo may be subject to copyright

15 April 1967 – Ram Jam Club, Brixton, south London with The All Night Workers (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

29 April 1967 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Target, St John’s Wood and The Zanes (Sussex Express)

29 April 1967 – 14-Hour Technicolor Dream Festival, Alexandra Palace, north London with Pink Floyd, Sam Gopal, Soft Machine and others (Melody Maker)

Melody Maker’s 29 April issue reported that Jon Povey and Alan “Wally” Waller from The Fenmen had joined The Pretty Things. 

13, 14 and 15 May 1967 – Grand Casino, Les Sables-d’Olonne, France (Newspaper clipping confirmation provided by Robert Gerretsen)

19 May 1967 – Oriel Ball, Oxford with The Mickey Finn, Nightgales, The Artwoods and The Burlington Sound (Cherwell)

Photo may be subject to copyright

10 June 1967 – Dartmouth Guildhall, Dartmouth, Devon with support (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)

16 June 1967 – Diss Corn Hall, Diss, Norfolk with Ian and Danny Eves and The Reformation (North Norfolk News)

24 June 1967 – Supreme Eastern Esplanade, Ramsgate, Kent with Len Marshall Show (East Kent Times & Mail)

 

22 July 1967 – Alexandria Palace, north London with The Move and others (Rieks Korte’s research)

26 July 1967 – Regal Ballroom, Minehead, Somerset with The Phaze (Somerset County Gazette)

Photo may be subject to copyright

29 July 1967 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

 

19 August 1967 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Acoustics (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

Photo may be subject to copyright

30 September 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk with The Kinsmen (Eastern Evening News)

 

6 October 1967 – Regal, Ardglass, Northern Ireland with The Kings (Belfast Evening Telegraph)

Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright

6 October 1967 – Starlite, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Belfast Evening Telegraph/Cityweek)

Photo may be subject to copyright

13 October 1967 – King’s Hall, Stoke, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

30 October 1967 – Neue Welt, West Berlin, West Germany (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

 

9 November 1967 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

11 November 1967 – Stadthalle, Wuppertal, West Germany (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/tag/1967/page/3/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

24 November 1967 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Eyes of Blue and T-Rex (Melody Maker)

Clockwise from top left: Jon Povey, Dick Taylor, Wally Waller, Skip Alan and Phil May. Photo may be subject to copyright

1 December 1967 – Queen’s Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool, County Durham with The Tony King Sound (Hartlepool Mail)

16 December 1967 – Assembly Rooms, Framlingham, Suffolk with The Wildoats (Fabulous 208/Ipswich Star)

20 December 1967 – Stockton Tech College, Stockton-on-Tees (Fabulous 208)

22 December 1967 – Purple Fez, Devonport, Devon (Fabulous 208)

23 December 1967 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex (Essex Chronicle)

1968

9 February 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Winston G and Crystal Ship (Melody Maker)

17 February 1968 – Ewell Tech, Ewell, Surrey with Dantalion’s Chariot (Melody Maker)

18 February 1968 – Danish dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)

Photo may be subject to copyright

13 March 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Action, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes and The Track (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

24 March 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex with The Machine (Brighton Evening Argus)

Photo may be subject to copyright

28 March 1968 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Lynn News)

 

11-13 April 1968 – Piper Club, Rome, Italy (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/These may have been Twink’s debut shows with the band

Melody Maker‘s 13 April issue reported that Twink had taken over from Skip Alan on drums.

27 April 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Coconut Mushroom (Melody Maker)

 

11 May 1968 – Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet (Derbyshire Times/Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)

Photo may be subject to copyright

21 June 1968 – Punch Bowl, Lapworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

21 June 1968 – The First Holiness Kitschgarden for the Liberation of Love & Peace in Colors, Houtrusthallen, La Hague, the Netherlands (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/) Robert Gerretsen says that The Pretty Things didn’t appear in the end

22 June 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with July and Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

4 July 1968 – West of England College of Art, Ashton, Avon with Fairport Convention (Bristol Evening Post)

6 July 1968 – St Thomas Hall, Brentwood, Essex with Pinkerton’s Colours (Essex Chronicle)

Photo may be subject to copyright

11 July 1968 – Ravensbourne College, Bromley, southeast London with The Mojos (South East London Mercury)

27 July 1968 – The Cockpit, Hyde Park, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

1 August 1968 – Tetbury Show Carnival Week, Marquee, Recreation Ground, Tetbury, Gloucestershire with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs (Stroud News)

2 August 1968 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with Bruce Channel and Dr Marigold’s Prescription (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

3 August 1968 – Torbay Blues and Beat Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with Invisible Fish and Flavour (Herald Express)

23 August 1968 – Jazz Bilzen festival, Bilzen, Belgium with The Action, Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Move and Simon Dupree Big Sound (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)

Photo: Rudolf Kaes

24 August 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Terry Reid (Melody Maker/Poster from Rudolf Kaes)

 

7-8 September 1968 – Dutch dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)

7 September 1968 – Sport Hotel Spiero, Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands (Robert Gerretsen research)

11 September 1968 – Ancien Stand, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland with The Warren Davis Monday Band and The Shakins (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)

18 September 1968 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)

19 September 1968 – Cellar Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

27 September 1968 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon with The Fire Brigade (Jonathan Hill’s book Van Dike: The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972)

 

8 October 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Time Out)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 October 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, London with T-Rex and Julian Hirsch (Coulson & Purley Advertiser/Poster)

26-27 October 1968 – Danish dates (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)

 

8 November 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Richmond & Twickenham Times)

15 November 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, London with Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)

29 November 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Melody Maker)

30 November 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Aurieal and The End (Melody Maker)

 

5 December 1968 – Somerset College of Art, Arts Ball, Country Ballroom, Taunton, Someset with Savoy Brown and Copper-Pot Band (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

15 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Pink Floyd, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Deviants and Gordon Smith (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

19 December 1968 – College of Technology, Maidstone, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research)

22 December 1968 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)

27 December 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, south London (Rieks Korte’s research)

29 December 1968 – Festival Flight to Lowlands II, Utrecht, the Netherlands with others (Robert Gerretsen research)

1969

Photo may be subject to copyright

25 January 1969 – Polytechnic, Little Titchfield, central London with Taste (Melody Maker)

25 January 1969 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Egg, Melanie, Glass Menagerie and Dave Brock and Pete Judd (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

31 January 1969 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London with Jody Grind (Melody Maker/Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)

 

3 February 1969 – Bay Hotel, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (www.45worlds.com/live)

Photo may be subject to copyright

7 February 1969 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with Ian Whitcombe with Turnstyle (Melody Maker)

8 February 1969 – Ewell Tech, Ewell, Surrey (Rieks Korte’s research)

14 February 1969 – Inner Circle, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)

23 February 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)

24 February 1969 – Dome, Brighton, Sussex (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

2 March 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)

4 March 1969 – Poole College, Poole, Dorset with Elmer Gantry (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)

5 March 1969 – Rag Ball, Lanchester College, Coventry with Julie Driscoll and The Brian Auger Trinity, The Deviants and Blossom Toes (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

Photo may be subject to copyright

8 March 1969 – Reading University Rag, Reading, Berkshire with Pink Floyd and The Gods (Melody Maker)

15 March 1969 – Chelsea College of Science and Technology, southwest London with Barclay James Harvest and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)

16 March 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, Kensington, west London (Time Out)

29 March 1969 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Broadcasted by VPRO Radio (Robert Gerretsen research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

3 April 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London with Deviants (Melody Maker)

26 April 1969 – Kee Club, Bridgend, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

9 May 1969 – Parliament Hill Fields, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)

11 May 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Time Out)

23 May 1969 – Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (Time Out)

31 May 1969 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon with The Fire Brigade (Jonathan Hill’s book Van Dike: The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972)

Photo may be subject to copyright

9 June 1969 – Friars, Aylesbury, Bucks with Lol Coxhill and Willy Barrett (Melody Maker)

13 June 1969 – North west Poly, Prince of Wales Road, northwest London (Time Out)

27 June 1969 – Avery Hill College Summer Ball, Avery Hill, Eltham, southeast London with The Kinks, Spencer Washboard Kings, The Coloured Raisins and The Derek Cross Dance Band (South East London Mercury)

Photo may be subject to copyright

1 August 1969 – Lyceum, Strand, central London with Marsha Hunt & White Trash and Hard Meat (Melody Maker)

22 August 1969 – Burton Constable Hall, Hull (Rieks Korte’s research)

Photo may be subject to copyright

23 August 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Melody Maker)

30 August 1969 – Isle of Wight Pop Festival, Ryde, Isle of Wight with many others (Rieks Korte’s research)

 

3 October 1969 – Acton Town Hall, Acton, west London (Time Out)

4 October 1969 – Regional College, Barking, east London with Barclay James Harvest and Wild Mouth (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

18 October 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Rare Bird (Melody Maker)

Photo may be subject to copyright

8 November 1969 – University College, Gower Street, central London with Indo-Jazz Fusion (Melody Maker)

Many thanks to Mike Stax for passing on Rieks Korte’s incomplete gig list, which he shared with Stax in the early 2000s. Thanks to Rieks for getting in touch allowing his research. Also, thanks to Rolf Hannet in Germany for providing Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental gigs.

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.

The Pheasantry, King’s Road, Chelsea, London

Photo: Melody Maker

A Grade II-listed building located at 152 King’s Road in Chelsea, southwest London, the Pheasantry featured a rock club that put on shows by the likes of Queen and Hawkind in the early 1970s.

In 1969, both Ambrose Slade (aka Slade) and Mott The Hoople played here but most of the bands appear to have been up and coming unknowns.

It’s not entirely clear when it started to host rock music as it’s been difficult to find any local newspapers that advertised the venue. UK music magazine Melody Maker did advertise the venue but only on a regular basis in 1970 and there are still many gaps in the listings.

Together with the Mechanical Orange (a club in a crypt in a church) and the Café Des Artistes (both in Chelsea), the nearby Overseas Visitors Club (OVC) in Earl’s Court, plus the Pontiac club in Putney, this was a popular rock music venue in the area.

Guitarist Mike Piggott has confirmed that his group, Junior’s Conquest, fronted by future Bob Marley guitarist/singer Junior Kerr (aka Junior Marvin) frequently played here sometime in late 1968 and/or early 1969.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add some more musical history to this venue during the years 1968-1970, particularly any missing gigs and whether there are any local papers that advertised the venue.

1968

Chelsea News and General Advertiser’s 29 March edition has an article entitled ‘Pheasantry reopens with a full house’, which notes that the basement now has a disco and dance floor. The club opened on the Monday (25 March).

According to Stefan Granados’ excellent article on The Majority in Shindig magazine, The Majority played at this venue just before Pete Mizen joined in October 1968. 

27 October – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

According to the Chelsea News and General Advertiser’s 20 December edition, Viv Prince was socialising in the club the previous week. On the same night, the band Giant was playing, managed by Alan Dale, former manager of Vamp, Prince’s old group.

16 December – My Dear Watson (Chelsea News and General Advertiser) This was apparently the Scottish band’s London debut

17 December – Toast (Melody Maker)

Westminster & Pimlico News’ 20 December edition has an article on the club and mentions the following bands playing there: Gethsemane, Clouds, The Majority and Village. 

1969

There are very few listings for 1969, so I’d welcome any additions and memories.

11 June – Clouds (Time Out)

16 June – Clouds (Time Out)

21 June – Ambrose Slade (Time Out)

25 June – Clouds (Time Out)

29 June – East of Eden (Melody Maker) Interestingly, this is not in the list for 30 June below

30 June – East of Eden (Melody Maker/www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html)

 

18 July – Black Velvet (Time Out)

 

15 August – Clouds (Time Out)

21 August – East of Eden (Time Out)

23 August – Grail (Time Out)

28 August – East of Eden (Time Out/www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html)

 

27 September – Stray (Time Out)

 

11 October – Joe Cocker (Westminster and Pimlico News)

13 October – Skin Alley (Time Out)

15 October – Skin Alley (Time Out)

27 October – Mott The Hoople (Time Out)

 

24 November – Stray (Time Out)

 

1 December – Gracious (Time Out)

8 December – Gracious (Time Out)

15 December – Gracious (Time Out)

1970

The gigs below seem to suggest that shows took place from Monday-Saturday although the listing here is far from complete and has huge gaps.

18 February – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

19 February – Imagination (Melody Maker)

20 February – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

21 February – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

2-3 March – Jon Hendricks (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

4 March – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

5 March – Imagination (Melody Maker)

6 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

7 March – Bronco (Melody Maker)

9 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

10 March – Emperor Rosko (Melody Maker)

11 March – Legend (Melody Maker)

The programme lists If not Legend

12 March – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

13 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

14 March – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

The programme lists Balloons not Patrick Dane

16 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

17 March – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

18 March – Bronco (Melody Maker)

19 March – Imagination (Melody Maker)

20 March – Trader Horne (Melody Maker)

21 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

23 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

24 March – If (Melody Maker)

25 March – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

The programme lists If on 25 March and (Emperor) Rosko on 24 March so other way round

26 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

27 March – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

28 March – Balloons (Melody Maker)

30 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

31 March – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

 

1 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

2 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

3 April – Lloyd (Melody Maker)

4 April – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

6 April – Earthquakes (Melody Maker)

7 April – Heatwave (Melody Maker)

8 April – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

9 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

10 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

11 April – Legend (Melody Maker)

13 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

14 April – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

15 April – Demon Fuzz (Melody Maker)

16 April – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

17 April – Legend (Melody Maker)

18 April – Trader Horne (Melody Maker)

20 April – Earthquakes (Melody Maker)

21 April – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

22 April – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

23 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

24 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

25 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

27 April – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

28 April – Anqeleque (Melody Maker)

29 April – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

30 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

 

1 May – Train (Melody Maker)

2 May – Sugar (Melody Maker)

4 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

5 May – Custers Track (Melody Maker)

6 May – Westland Steamboat (Melody Maker)

7 May – Sarah Gordon’s House of Bondage (Melody Maker)

8 May – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

9 May – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

11 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

12 May – Pebbles (Melody Maker)

13 May – Sugar (Melody Maker)

14 May – Legend (Melody Maker)

15 May – Love Children (Melody Maker)

16 May – Syrup (Melody Maker)

18 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

19 May – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

20 May – Patrick Dane & The Frontline Band (Melody Maker)

21 May – Legend (Melody Maker)

22 May – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

23 May – Syrup (Melody Maker)

25 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

26 May – Pebbles (Melody Maker)

27 May – Westbound Lounge (Melody Maker)

28 May – Legend (Melody Maker)

29 May – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

30 May – Syrup (Melody Maker)

 

1 June – 67 Park Lane (Melody Maker)

2 June – Crazy Mabel (Melody Maker)

3 June – Margarine (Melody Maker)

4 June – High Broom (Melody Maker)

5 June – Syrup (Melody Maker)

6 June – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

8 June – Calum Bryce and Poppa Ben Hook (Melody Maker)

9 June – Legend (Melody Maker)

 

17 June – Westland Steamboat (Melody Maker)

18 June – The Crew (Melody Maker)

19 June – 67 Park Lane (Melody Maker)

20 June – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

22 June – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

23 June – Brotherhood (Melody Maker)

24 June – Legend (Melody Maker)

25 June – High Broom (Melody Maker)

26 June – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

27 June – Syrup (Melody Maker)

29 June – Angelique (Melody Maker)

30 June – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

1 July – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

2 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

3 July – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

4 July – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

6 July – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

7 July – Bagge (Melody Maker)

8 July – Quincy (Melody Maker)

9 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

10 July – Love Children (Melody Maker)

11 July – Pussyfoot Tram (Melody Maker)

13 July – Syrup (Melody Maker)

14 July – Pure Wings (Melody Maker)

15 July – Eureka Stockade (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

16 July – Catapilla (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

17 July – Ritual (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

18 July – Gift (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

20 July – Charge (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

21 July – Westland Steamboat (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

22 July – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

23 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

24 July – Portrait (Melody Maker)

25 July – Crew (Melody Maker)

27 July – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

28 July – Greasy Bear (Melody Maker)

29 July – Pure Wings (Melody Maker)

30 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

31 July – Magic Roundabout (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

1 August – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

3 August – Free Design (Melody Maker)

4 August – Magic Roundabout (Melody Maker)

5 August – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

6 August – My Cake (Melody Maker)

7 August – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

8 August – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

10 August – Free Design (Melody Maker)

11 August – Custer’s Track (Melody Maker)

12 August – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

13 August – Crew (Melody Maker)

14 August – Blonde on Blonde (Melody Maker)

15 August – Guest group (Melody Maker)

17 August – Robbie Ray & The Roundabouts (Melody Maker)

18 August – John McFlair Band (Melody Maker)

19 August – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

20 August – Heatwave (Melody Maker)

21 August – Angelique (Melody Maker)

22 August – Mirrors (Melody Maker)

24 August – Free Design (Melody Maker)

25 August – Robbie Ray & The Roundabouts (Melody Maker)

26 August – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

27 August – Portrait (Melody Maker)

28 August – Noir (Melody Maker)

29 August – Legend (Melody Maker)

31 August – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

1 September – Big Bertha (Melody Maker)

2 September – Manderin Craze (Melody Maker)

3 September – Arcadium (Melody Maker)

4 September – Ginger (Melody Maker)

5 September – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

7 September – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

8 September – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

9 September – Pure Wings (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

10 September – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

11 September – Angelique (Melody Maker)

12 September – Crew (Melody Maker)

14 September – High Broom (Melody Maker)

15 September – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

16 September – Quincy (Melody Maker)

17 September – Crew (Melody Maker)

18 September – Angelique (Melody Maker)

19 September – Mako (Melody Maker)

21 September – Portrait (Melody Maker)

22 September – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

23 September – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

24 September – Consortium (Melody Maker)

25 September – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

26 September – Legend (Melody Maker)

28 September – Love’s Children (Melody Maker)

29 September – Barley (Melody Maker)

30 September – Robbie Ray & The Roundabouts (Melody Maker)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

1 October – Crew (Melody Maker)

2 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

3 October – Elton Chess (Melody Maker)

5 October – John McFlair Band (Melody Maker)

6 October – 67 Park Lane (Melody Maker)

7 October – Custers Track (Melody Maker)

The programme has Osibisa not Custers Track

8 October – Almond Diamond (Melody Maker)

The programme lists Almond Marzipan

9 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

10 October – Growth (Melody Maker)

The programme lists Merlin not Growth

12 October – John McFlair Band (Melody Maker)

13 October – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

14 October – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

15 October – Legend (Melody Maker)

16 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

17 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

19 October – Portrait (Melody Maker)

20 October – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

21 October – Magic Roundabout (Melody Maker)

22 October – Free Ferry (Melody Maker)

23 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

24 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

26 October – Satisfaction (Melody Maker)

27 October – Patrick Dane & The Frontline Band (Melody Maker)

28 October – Crazy Paving (Melody Maker)

Photo: Melody Maker

29 October – Love Children (Melody Maker)

30 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

31 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

I don’t have any listings for November and December but I am pretty sure it was operating during these months as the club continued in 1971 and beyond.

1971

Programme from Martin H Samuel

10 February – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

10 March – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

29 April – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

Programme from Martin H Samuel

11 August – The Crew (Martin H Samuel’s clipping)

18 August – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

27 August – The Crew (Martin H Samuel’s clipping)

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.

 

Denny Laine’s Electric String Band

Denny Laine with the Moody Blues photo
Denny Laine with the Moody Blues

Denny Laine (lead guitar, vocals)
Binky McKenzie (bass)
Wilhelm Martin (violin)
John Stein (violin)
Clive Gillinson (cello)
Chris Van Campen (cello)
Viv Prince (drums)

1966

October (8) After recording the single Life’s Not Life, Laine (b. Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944, Tyseley, Birmingham, England) leaves The Moody Blues to pursue a new musical project. He briefly forms a trio but the project fails to gel as the others don’t share his new musical ideas.

December Laine forms an amplified string quartet with classical musicians Gillinson, Martin, Stein and Van Campen (who are all ex-Royal Academy), and a backing band featuring ex-Pretty Things and Bunch Of Fives drummer Prince (b. 9 August 1944, Loughborough, Leicestershire, England) and bass player Binky McKenzie, who has worked with future Crazy World of Arthur Brown keyboard player Vincent Crane and blues legend, Alexis Korner.

Denny Laine early 1967
Denny Laine,  1967

1967

January (21) Melody Maker announces that Laine is recording for Decca’s new ‘progressive’ label Deram. Laine will continue to work under the guidance of producer Denny Cordell, who oversaw The Moody Blues’ recordings.

April (14) His debut single Say You Don’t Mind is released but fails to chart despite being aired on John Peel’s popular independent radio show Top Gear. The song’s advanced nature is confirmed when ex-Zombies lead vocalist Colin Blunstone takes a similar version to UK #15 in 1972. Disc magazine states that Laine has been commissioned to write an Italian film score and is expected in Milan in July for 10 days to supervise the recording. The project, however, is later shelved.

(29) Laine is a compere at the 14-hour Technicolour Dream concert at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Denny Laine Deram PS Say You Don't Mind
Dutch sleeve with b-side title missing the definite article.

May (3) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band is supported by Robert Plant’s Band of Joy at Cedar Club, Birmingham.

Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail

(6) The band plays two gigs in Nottingham at the Beachcomber Club and the Britannia Rowing Club.

(7) The group’s debut performance at London’s Saville Theatre (which was originally scheduled for 3 May) is cancelled when Laine pulls out one hour before the show. According to Melody Maker, bass player Binky McKenzie leaves three days before the show and Laine is unable to get a replacement fully rehearsed in time. Shortly afterwards, Laine reorganises the group, bringing in new bass player Cliff Barton, and Angus Anderson (violin) and Haflidi Halynisson (cello), who replace Martin and Van Campen.

(10) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band return to the Cedar Club for another show supported by Robert Plant’s Band of Joy

Photo: Melody Maker

(19) His new group makes its debut at London’s Tiles Club on a double bill with his former band, The Moody Blues. (Disc magazine announces that Laine is due to do a six-day promo tour of the US from 24-30 May, but it is subsequently cancelled.)

(26) Say You Don’t Mind is given an American release.

Photo: Mirabelle, 24 June 1967 issue

June (4) The band finally plays at London’s Saville Theatre alongside Procol Harum, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and others. (According to Melody Maker, the group performs in Paris on 7-8 June and then travels to Brussels for three days of concerts and TV performances. However, this seems unlikely as a later issue claims that the group begins work on a new single and a debut album on 7 June.)

Photo: Melody Maker

(8) The group plays at the Marquee with The Pyramid (featuring future Fairport Convention singer Ian Matthews and several soon-to-be Denny Laine collaborators).

(10) Laine’s band is booked to play at the Birdcage in Portsmouth, Hants but doesn’t show up.

Denny Laine in Mirabelle, June 1967

(19) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band makes its debut BBC radio appearance on the Light Programme.

Photo: Melody Maker

(23) The band appears the Electric Garden in Covent Garden, central London with Apostolic Intervention.

(24) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band appear at the Swan, Yardley with The Maddening Crowd

Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail

July Laine cuts the ambitious track Why Did You Come? with new bass player Andy Leigh, which producer Denny Cordell subsequently holds back because he feels that it is “too subtle”. (A Melody Maker article from this time, however, claims that the master tape goes missing.) Leigh has previously worked with Denny Cordell’s “Studio G” project, which has recorded two tracks for a promotional EP circulated in tiny quantities to British television and film production companies. The project also features organist/pianist Mike Lease who is brought in by Cordell to arrange strings for one of Laine’s tracks and drummer Peter Trout, who joins the Electric String Band later in the year.

Denny Laine's Electric String Band
Denny Laine rehearsing the string band

(13) The new line up with Leigh performs at Blaises, Kensington.

(14) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band make an appearance at London’s UFO club, where they perform Say You Don’t Mind, Ask The People, Why Did You Come?, Catherine’s Wheel and The Machine Song, which is never released.

(29) Laine’s group finally appears at the Birdcage in Portsmouth, Hants.

August (5) The outfit performs at Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Soul Concern.

(13) The band plays at the Windsor Blues and Jazz Festival, held at Windsor racecourse alongside Cream, Pentangle, Blossom Toes, Jeff Beck and many others.

Photo: Mirabelle, 12 August 1967 issue

(26) Laine arrives at his manager Brian Epstein’s Belgravia home hoping to arrange further work; little does he know that Epstein is dead inside from a drug overdose.

(26-28) The group takes part in a three-day rock festival held at Woburn Abbey with Eric Burdon & The Animals, The Jeff Beck Group, The Small Faces and others.

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

Denny Laine, summer 1967, Fabulous 208

September (8) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band perform at the Marquee with The Gods.

(9) The band performs at the UFO at the Roundhouse, London alongside The Soft Machine, The Pink Floyd, Tomorrow and The Move.

(23) Laine’s group appear at the Middle Earth club, King Street, Covent Garden alongside T-Rex and Picadilly Line. Shortly afterwards, Viv Prince departs and forms the short-lived VAMP. Laine recruits new drummer Peter Trout, who has previously worked with Andy Leigh in the “Studio G” band and appeared on sessions for Pyramid’s single Summer of Last Year. The new line up rehearses but the string quartet (with the exception of John Stein) leaves for a tour of Russia. Laine adds new cello player Nigel Pinkett alongside Leigh, Proud and Stein.

October (4) Laine’s band records its debut John Peel radio session, recording Say You Don’t Mind, Why Did You Come?, Catherine’s Wheel, Ask The People, a cover of Tim Hardin’s Reason To Believe and a recent composition. The session is broadcast on 8 October. Peter Trout leaves and reunites with Denny Laine in 1971.

(6) The band, with a new drummer, performs at the UFO, the Roundhouse, London with Tim Rose.

Photo: Melody Maker

(15) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band return to the Middle Earth.

November Melody Maker announces that a Denny Laine album, containing three Laine compositions and a new single are scheduled for a Christmas release. (The former is subsequently cancelled.)

(17) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band appears at Nottingham Technical College, Nottingham with Deuce Coup.


(18) The group performs at the Middle Earth with Alexis Korner and Pegasus.

December (6) The band joins Fleetwood Mac and Warren Davies for a show at the Royal Hotel, Woburn Place, London.

(16) Laine’s band plays at the Britannia Boat Club, Nottingham.

Denny Laine Deram 45 Too Much in Love1968

January (12) Laine releases his second single, the equally adventurous Too Much In Love which also fails to chart. (Melody Maker states that an album featuring nine Laine compositions is scheduled for release in early February and that a 10-day tour of Sweden commencing on 25 January is imminent. However, neither transpires).

(24) Denny Laine’s Electric String Band make a second Peel session appearance, recording Catherine’s Wheel, The Machine Song, Too Much In Love, and two new songs, Masks and the folk standard, Sally Free and Easy. The session is broadcast on 28 January.

February Laine disbands the group and concentrates on solo work on London’s folk circuit. After a few months, he moves to Spain and lives a gypsy lifestyle. Leigh briefly joins Spooky Tooth (appearing on their Ceremony album), before releasing a solo album on Polydor in early 1970. He will then become an integral part of Ian Matthews’s Southern Comfort.

May Moving to Spain, Laine stops first in the Canary Islands where he meets American draft dodger, Charlie Jackson, a flute player who has come to Spain to learn flamenco guitar. The pair become friends and busk for six months before moving to Moron de La Frontera, a small town near Seville. While there, Laine learns flamenco guitar phrases from players from all over the world and is influenced by local star, Diego del Eastor.

October Returning to Britain, Laine jams with the ad-hoc outfit Balls, which features John Lennon and Rolling Stone Brian Jones. The band reportedly records a song titled Go To The Mountains for Apple but it is never released. Around this time, he reunites with Mike Lease, who is working with John Martyn’s wife, singer/songwriter, Beverly Kutner. Lease agrees to help Laine audition bass players and drummers for a new version of Balls but despite finding suitable musicians, including drummer Peter Phillips, the line up never settles.

1969

February Laine participates in an early Blind Faith session. He is, however, in the process of forming a new line-up of Balls with Trevor Burton of The Move and decides not to join the outfit. He will later join Ginger Baker in Airforce in the spring of the following year on an ad-hoc basis.

1970

August (5-6) Having contributed to Ginger Baker’s Airforce album and spent the last 18 months rehearsing material with Trevor Burton and ex-Plastic Ono drummer Alan White at a country house in Cholesbury, Bucks, Balls are scheduled to make their live debut at the ‘Popanalia’ festival in Nice, France. The group misses the concert, although their lone single, Burton’s Fight For My Country backed by Laine and White’s Janie Slow Down is rush released in France by Byg Records. (The group is rumoured to have recorded 12 tracks for an album, although they are currently without a record contract. The sessions include contributions from ex-Family member Ric Grech.)

October (18) Balls’ debut UK live performance at the Lyceum in London fails to materialise. (The group was planning to record the show for a possible live album, but internal problems result in a cancellation of the show.) White subsequently leaves and Laine and Burton perform an acoustic set at their next show, held at Trent Poly, Nottingham. Shortly afterwards ex-Spooky Tooth drummer Mike Kellie agrees to join while singer Steve Gibbons is also added. The new line-up vows to undertake a UK tour in January 1971, but by then the group has broken up. Fight For My Country is released by Wizzard Records but fails to chart.

1971

July Laine forms a new group with bass player Steve Thompson, guitarist John Moorshead and drummer Peter Trout, who worked with The Electric String Band and rehearses material. However, Laine abandons the project when Paul McCartney invites the singer to join Wings in August.

Sources:

Bacon, Tony. ‘London Live’, Balafon Books, 1999.
Black, Johnny. ‘Blind Faith’. Mojo Magazine, July 1996.
Clayson, Alan. ‘Denny Laine’. Record Collector, #191, July 1995.
Clayson, Alan. Call Up The Groups – The Golden Age Of British Beat 1962-67. Blandford Press, 1985.
Dellar, Fred. ‘Time Machine’. Mojo Magazine, August 1997.
Doggett, Peter and Reed, John. ‘Looking Back at June 1968’. Record Collector #166, June 1993.
Gardner, Ken. Peel Sessions. BBC Books, 2007.
Hounsome, Terry. Rock Record #6. Record Researcher Publications, 1994.
King, Michael. Wrong Movements – The Robert Wyatt Story. SAF Publishing, 1994.
Laine, Denny. Denny Laine’s Guitar Book, Whizzard Press, 1979.
Paytress, Mark. ‘Reading Festival’. Record Collector, #216, August 1997.
Reed, John and Pelletier, Paul. ‘Middle Earth’. Record Collector, April 1996.
Rees, Dafydd and Crampton, Luke. Guinness Book Of Rock Stars, 2nd Edition. Guinness Publishing Ltd, 1989.
Wells, David. ‘Going Underground’. Record Collector, #216, August 1997.

Disc, April 15, 1967, page 4, May 6, 1967, page 6 and June 17, 1967, page 13.

Melody Maker, January 21, 1967, page 5; April 22, 1967, page 5; April 29, 1967, page 4; May 13, 1967, page 4; May 20, 1967, page 5; July 1, 1967, page 7; July 8, 1967, page 4; July 15, 1967, page 4; September 23, 1967, page 28; October 7, 1967, page 6; November 4, 1967, page 4; November 18, 1967, page 20; December 2, 1967, page 24; January 6, 1968, page 3; August 1, 1970, page 4; August 8, 1970, page 29; September 26, 1970, page 5; October 24, 1970, page 4 and November 14, 1970, page 14.

The Birmingham Evening Mail.

Many thanks to Peter Trout and Mike Lease for their memories of working with Denny Laine. Thanks also to Dave Allen.

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

To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

Special thanks to Jim Wynand for the scan of the Dutch sleeve and to MC for the rare Top Gear recordings.