Richard Bennett – lead vocals
Tony Tacon – lead guitar
Ian Orton – keyboards
John Barter – tenor sax
George Russell – tenor sax
Ron Lewingdon – trumpet
Steve Priest – bass/vocals
Alan Bennett – drums
West London R&B/soul connoisseurs The Army have the distinction of being the group that spawned future Sweet bass player/singer Steve Priest.
The Army’s roots can be traced as far back as 1962 when cousins Richard Bennett (lead vocals) and Alan Bennett (drums) decided to form their first band, The Satellites in Hayes, west London.
Joined by Dave Harris (bass) and siblings Ian Orton (lead guitar) and Mick Orton (rhythm guitar), The Satellites had an early brush with fame when they appeared on the set of the James Bond movie Goldfinger in 1964.
Around mid-July 1966, however, The Satellites underwent a significant reshuffle, starting with the addition of lead guitarist Tony Tacon, whose main claim to fame is that he had been a member of local rivals, The Javelins with future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan during 1962-1964.
Gillan left to join Wainwright’s Gentlemen in November 1964 (Ed: future Sweet drummer Mick Tucker joined during late 1965) and Tacon joined Ealing band, Four Jacks and a Joker before hooking up with West Drayton outfit, The Ways & Means for a few months.
“I got a knock on my door from Clem [Clemson] who had been a part-time manager of The Javelins,” remembers Tacon. “He said that The Satellites were looking for a new lead guitarist if I was interested. I went down to Uxbridge for an audition and joined.”
With Tacon’s arrival, Ian Orton moved on to keyboards. At the same time Mick Orton dropped out. The following month, the band decided to remodel itself on Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers by bringing in some horn players.
For the proposed horn section, Tacon recommended his friend, sax player John Barter, who had played alongside the guitarist in Four Jacks and a Joker. Barter in turn introduced his friend, fellow sax player George Russell, a former member of Twickenham-based R&B outfit, Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
Not long after Dave Harris departed and future Sweet bass player Steve Priest took his place.
“Steve Priest joined as our new bass player,” continues Tacon. “I remember us going around to see him at his parents’ house in Hayes. I was familiar with him from his Countdowns days but someone else in the band had made contact with him.”
According to Steve Priest’s book Are you Ready, Steve? it was Richard and Alan Bennett who approached him to join. Priest would later recruit future Army members, guitarist Richard Herring and organist Dennis White from his former group The Countdowns.
Tacon remembers one of his first gigs with the group (still billed as The Satellites) was in south Wales.
“I remember playing Afan Lido (Port Talbot) probably in their gym. It was early on after I joined The Satellites. Straight down the M4 and back the same day. Beautiful sunny day (so not winter) and I remember us relaxing on the nearby beach until the gig started. I reckon it was a regular dance venue as girls told us that they came down each week.” (Ed. The Port Talbot Guardian lists this as 23 July 1966 with Something Else in support)
Renamed The Army, in view of the increased number of personnel in the band, Richard Bennett, who worked as a sign writer, painted the new moniker, surrounded by instruments, on the sextet’s new purchase, an old 30cwt van.
“The van was so big that we used to have to take it in turns to have it for a week and park it outside our homes,” says Tacon.
From the outset, The Army’s repertoire was entirely comprised of cover material, mixing popular US R&B/soul numbers like Lee Dorsey’s “Ride Your Pony”, The Four Tops’ “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”, Larry Williams’s “Slow Down” and Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper’s “In the Midnight Hour” (which Steve Priest sang) with British classics, such as Zoot Money’s “Big Time Operator”.
At first, the revamped and renamed outfit found gigs at its local haunt – the Grange Club in Hayes. Interestingly, they were also invited to perform at several garden parties for the Tory party.
“I was impressed by the sort of gigs that we did,” recalls Tacon. “The band was well in with the Young Conservative Association, how I don’t know, and played at many of the functions in London and the Home Counties.”
Tacon remembers the band playing at the Bell House Hotel in Gerrards Cross, a venue in Harpenden with a Liverpool band that might have been The Undertakers and also at an RAF base at Dawes Hill near High Wycombe.
During this time, the guitarist also remembers the band landing a gig at the Queen’s Building in the centre of London (Heathrow) Airport and sharing the dressing room with Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen.
In late October, The Army played at a Halloween Party at a hotel opposite the airport, which was put on by a film producer.
More significant, the sextet started performing on London’s busy club scene, including shows at the Starlite Ballroom in Greenford and the 100 Club (Ed: this might have been Tiles) on Oxford Street.
“One night we played a dance hall in the Amersham area… then went straight off to the centre of London where we played [at Tiles] in the early hours of the morning. The Birds may have been on before us,” recalls Tacon.
“I remember that Steve [Priest] had some friends with him at that gig and one of them was robbed on the dance floor. My fiancée (now my wife) saw it happen and says that the gang turned Steve’s friend upside down to empty his pockets.”
Priest’s book doesn’t mention this incident but does note that the venue the group played after the Amersham area gig was Tiles on Oxford Street. Interestingly, The Army did play the Legion Hall in Amersham on 25 February 1967 and later that evening appeared at Tiles on Oxford Street (see selected gig list below).
As the band’s popularity grew, The Army ventured further afield, including shows in Cardiff (3 February 1967), Dunstable, Birmingham and Nottingham among others.
Tacon remembers the sextet playing a converted warehouse in Birmingham and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers were in the dressing room when they arrived [Ed: this was Midnight City on 19 November 1966, although the group is not advertised in Birmingham Evening Mail].
“I remember John Mayall sitting there smoking a spliff. The window at the end of the room looked out on to a large intersection and bang opposite was Digbeth police station,” continues the guitarist.
“We left our gear and all went off to the Bullring for something to eat, missing the Bluesbreakers’ set. I have often wondered if Eric Clapton was in the room that night, but after comparing notes with Steve Priest; he assures me that it was the first gig [sic] for Peter Green, who he saw frantically practising in readiness having just taken over from Clapton.”
Tacon adds that The Army played at the Dungeon Club in Nottingham the next evening, a venue that he recalls playing at least twice during his time with the band. [Ed: this would have been 20 November 1966. Again, the local paper, The Nottingham Evening Post does not list them, but rather The Amboy Dukes]
Another notable gig took place on Christmas Eve when The Army opened for their idols, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers at Burton’s in Uxbridge.
“I must have left in my own van earlier than the others after the gig because the next morning (Christmas Day), two of the band, probably Richard and Alan turned up with my share of the money,” recalls the guitarist.
“They were good lads in that band. I went all over the place with them and do not remember any upsets at all.”
During January 1967, Tacon introduced trumpet player Ron Lewingdon and The Army became a seven-piece act.
“He approached me about joining when he saw me driving the band’s van one day in the company car park,” explains the guitarist. “I was working in the tool room at the same company at the time. I put it to the others and he was in.”
With Lewingdon on-board, The Army played at the Adelphi Ballroom in Slough (18 March 1967) and Tacon’s old mate from The Javelins, Ian Gillan turned up and ended up taking photos of the group performing from the side of the stage.
“Ian came with me in my car to see the band for the first time,” continues the guitarist. “I had been going to see him in Episode Six, so he repaid the compliment. He was best man at my wedding later that year.”
On this particular night Richard Bennett’s PA played up and the singer remembers borrowing one from Ian Gillan. Tacon adds that the future Deep Purple singer also took the photo.
However, not long after, Tony Tacon handed his notice. The guitarist was indeed engaged and got married soon after; it was time to hang up his rock ‘n’ roll boots. In fact, Tacon didn’t play in a band again until The Javelins reformed in the early 1990s to record a CD. He currently plays with Lincoln band, Something Else.
The guitarist remembers that his last gig with The Army took place at the California Ballroom in Dunstable on 25 March 1967.
“There were three bands on that night,” he says looking back. “The Troggs were top of the bill and we shared the dressing room with them. I remember being impressed that they arrived in an Austin Princess and brought a portable black and white TV with them that was set up in the dressing room.”
With former Countdowns guitarist Richard Herring taking over on lead guitar and ex-Countdown Dennis White subsequently replacing Ian Orton on electric organ, The Army cut two tracks in late 1967 that were shelved until 2014 when this author helped secure the release of the band’s cover of the Joe Tex hit, “Sugar” on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod Volume 5. The band’s cover of the Sam & Dave hit “You Don’t Know Like I Know” remains unreleased.
On 14 October, The Army returned to the California Ballroom to support Georgie Fame. Two months later, they played two shows at Burton’s in Uxbridge, the latter on New Year’s Eve, opening for Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.
Sometime around this period, the group turned up at Chelsea Barracks to audition for Opportunity Knocks.
The Army continued to gig during early 1968, playing venues like Walton Hop. However, behind the scenes, Steve Priest began rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka Sweet) on the side.
“I was a fan of smaller bands like Cream,” says Priest on his decision to explore new avenues. “The Army and Wainwright’s Gentlemen played at Ealing Town Hall on the same night. Mick [Tucker] was fired that night and Brian [Connolly] resigned.”
Not long after playing a show at the Grange Club in Hayes in mid-February (see date stamped top picture), Priest announced his decision to leave The Army, playing his debut gig with The Sweetshop (subsequently shortened to The Sweet) on 9 March at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion.
Taking on a new bass player called Chris from Ealing, The Army continued to gig, including a clutch of shows at the New Pink Flamingo in Soho, Cooks Ferry Inn in Edmonton, north London and also opened for The Easybeats at St Albans City Hall.
By this point, Richard Herring had also departed and former Casuals’ lead guitarist Geoff Foster had joined. Not long after Dennis White left to join Merlin Q.
The group continued to pick up gigs, playing venues like Samanthas in New Burlington Street in London
Then, around September 1968, Pete Burt took over the drum stool from Alan Bennett. Burt had worked with George Russell in Jeff Curtis & The Flames during 1965 and had stuck with the group when it became The Kool. Bennett’s departure prompted Ron Lewingdon to also drop out.
Alan Bennett and Ron Lewingdon stuck together. Reunited with former member, the late Ian Orton on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and siblings Ray Spiteri (lead guitar) and Bob Spiteri (bass), they formed The Occasions and landed a prestigious gig at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane the early 1970s.
The remaining members continued into early 1969 before splintering. Pete Burt briefly gigged with Bob Brittain and then formed Hogsnort Rupert, the house band at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote.
Geoff Foster joined soul band, The Orange Rainbow (John Barter and George Russell both guested). Russell (and later Richard Bennett) emigrated to Australia but Russell subsequently returned to the UK.
Notable gigs:
3 September 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Simon Dupree Sound (billed as The Satellites)
9 September 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (billed as The Satellites)
27 October 1966 – Royal Ballrooms, Boscombe, Dorset (billed as The Satellites)
19 November 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, Birmingham with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced either Wynder K Frog or The Times who were also advertised)
20 November 1966 – The Dungeon, Nottingham (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced The Amboy Dukes who were advertised in Nottingham Evening Post)
24 November 1966 – Stereo Club, Wycombe, Bucks (billed as The Satellites)
25 November 1966 – Wy-Key Club, Burnham Lane, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Satellites)
26 November 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Blackout (billed as The Satellites)
10 December 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Riot Squad (Tony Tacon confirmed)
24 December 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
4 February 1967 – Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire (replaced The All Night Workers)
11 February 1967 – Kookoo-Byrd Discotheque, Cardiff, Wales
25 February 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
25 February 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gamblers and The Essex Five
5 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham
18 March 1967 – At the Union, Manchester with St Louis Union and Sound Venture (Tony Tacon doesn’t recall this gig at all, even though it was advertised)
18 March 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
25 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Troggs
1 April 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
23 April – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 April 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
29 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Lemon Line and The Penny Blacks
11 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Jokers and The Afex
28 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
2 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Toys
15 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
16 July 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gass and The Fraternity
19 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Coloured Raisins and Tiles Big Band
20 August 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Maze and The Art Movement
23 August 1967 – Drayton Hall, West Drayton, west London
23 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, west London
3 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
14 October 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame & Four Point Five
24 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
25 November 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
26 November 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set
27 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
30 November 1967 – RAF Northwood, Hertfordshire
1 December 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
2 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
3 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Temptations (this was The Fantastics not the Motown group)
31 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (this requires confirmation)
5 January 1968 – The Hub, Marlow, Bucks
13 January 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
20 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Radio Disc Show with Stuart Henry
According to Frank Torpey’s diary, Steve Priest was rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka The Sweet) by 5 February and would have left a few weeks later.
Frank Torpey’s final gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen was 20 January and Mick Tucker was fired shortly afterwards so the Ealing Town Hall gig where Wainwright’s Gentlemen and The Army both appeared was probably in the last week of January 1968.
10 February 1968 – The Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
Mid (13?) February 1968 – The Grange, Hayes, west London (picture has Steve Priest in it, so one of his final gigs with the band)
3 March 1968 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire (Priest may have played this but very unlikely)
10 May 1968 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Beds with Spectrum
25 May 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Alfred The Great
26 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London
30 May 1968 – St Andrew’s Hall, Uxbridge, northwest London
2 June 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London with The All-Nite Workers (billed as Army Soul Show)
14 June 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Easybeats and The Hello
6 July 1968 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent
10 August 1968 – Styx Discotheque, Luton, Bedfordshire
23 September 1968 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with Kingsize Keen and His Rockin’ Machine
I would like to thank Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett, Alan Bennett, Ron Lewingdon, Steve Priest, John Kerrison, Geoff Foster, George Russell, John Barter and Keith Kendall for providing some information about this band. Thanks to Richard Bennett, George Russell and Tony Tacon for providing images.
Gigs were sourced from various national newspapers and Melody Maker (some sources are noted in the comments below).
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
Hi I can verify that these details are correct as I am Ron Lewingdon the Trumpet player in the photo.
The keyboards name was Dennis but I don’t remember his surname.
Would it be possible for you to send me Richard Bennett’s email address as I would love to contact him after all these years. Last time I heard he was living in Australia but maybe he has returned to the UK?
Thanks I look forward to hearing from you
hello i would just like to say the keyboard player is Dennis white.my partner is Alan Bennett now, and he would love his cousin Richard Bennett to get in touch now he is back from australia.we love the pictures and information look forward to hearing from him cas and alan xx love to John Kerrison to from carol richardsxx
Found some more Army gigs in newspapers during a visit to the British library
Uxbridge and West Drayton Chronicle:
23 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, Middlesex
Woking Herald:
1 April 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
13 January 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
go-go danseuse sure looks like ms Anita Harris 🙂
However, found a few more gigs:
11 May 1967 – Upper cut, Forest Gate with The Jokers and The Afex
29 July 1967 – Tiles, London with The Gass and The Fraternity
19 August 1967 – Tiles, London with Coloured Raisins and Tiles Big Band
Found the following gigs in the Windsor, Slough & Eton Express. The venue unless otherwise noted was the Adelphi Ballroom in Slough
18 March 1967
23 April 1967
28 May 1967
15 July 1967
2 September 1967
16 July 1967 (Carlton Ballroom, Slough)
Hi
I like the website. Fascinating to a ex-Hayes, Middlesex guy who played with a number of bands from 1962 to 1967.
I have just come across your feature on “The Army” and can verify that, despite Ron Lewingdon’s assurance, some facts are incorrect. I got Ron the job in the Army as he saw me using the band’s van and approached me in the car park where we both worked in 1966 to see if we needed a trumpet player
The photos at the Adelphi were taken on the night that Ian Gillan came with me in my car to see the band for the first time. I had been going to see him in Episode Six, so he repaid the compliment. He was best man at my wedding later that year.
I was a founder member of “The Javelins” which existed 1962 to 1965, and Ian joined the band in late 1962 and left late 1964 to join Wainwrights Gentlemen.
After the Javelins I played with a couple of local groups until about mid-1966 when I was approached to join the Satellites, a 5 piece guitar band from Uxbridge area.
To cut a long story short, we soon changed the line-up by bringing in a sax player John Barter who I introduced (having played in local Ealing band “Four Jacks and a Joker” with him and he lived just around the corner from me). John knew another sax player (this was George) and he joined too a bit later. With the change in line-up the repertoire was changing so Ian Orton bought a large Hammond type of organ and I was the only guitarist. Presumably Mick Orton must have been the guitarist that I replaced. At some point early on Dave Harris was replaced on bass by Steve Priest who we knew from his days in a rival Hayes band “The Countdowns”.
The name was changed to “The Army” by discussion within the band members. Steve Winwood was not involved. Nice story but it did not happen.
Following this, the band’s 30cwt van was painted up with the name by Richard Bennett (a sign writer for a local company in his day job). The van was so big that those of us who could drive had to take it in turns to park it outside their homes. It was whilst I was using it on a trip to work that Ron recognised it as a group vehicle from the name on the side and approached me . Ron joined soon after that, completing the line-up :-
Richard Bennett lead vocals
Alan Bennett drums
Steve Priest bass guitar
Tony Tacon lead guitar
Ian Orton keyboards
John Barter saxophone
George Russell saxophone
Ron Lewingdon trumpet
If you need any info. re: the Javelins or Whistowe House another Hayes venue, please let me know.
Cheers
Tony
Hi Tony, thank you a lot for this page, its very interesting. Im an old Sweet fan from Switzerland and i know that Steve Priest played by the countdowns and The Army. But i never did know a lot , now i see this page with Infos pictures, its great. I really would wonder how the Band sounded, it was in the Direction of soul? Are recordings existing? Can you tell me something about Steve at this times? Im interested in old Sixties Bands anyway. Thank you , i really like this page. Greetings Bruno
Hi Bruno
I’m pleased you are interested in the bands. If you try this link it will take you to a new updated article that came out a week ago and will answer some of your questions:-
http://thestrangebrew.co.uk/articles/the-army
Kind regards
Tony Tacon
Hi Tony,
I found two songs for the Army on Ric´s Soundcloud, perhaps there have more songs of this time survived on live tapes or so, don´t you have still tapes of this time or do you know who could have?
Greetings
Rochus
Hi Nick the bass player took over from Steve .his name was Chris but I just can not remember his surname he came from Ealing and was with us until the end. sad to hear about Pete & Jeff. Pete Burt replaced Alan Bennett on drums he was Mick Burt, younger brother(Cliff Bennett’s drummer ) and on lead guitar was Geoff Foster and still in contact with. it was great to hear your in contact with Jeff Lake and the other. by the way it was me who went to Australia. before Richard and then I met up with them ( Rich & Sue ) about 6 mouths later. and lived with them for about a year. it would be really nice if anyone can get in contact. hope it’s been some help. all the best🎼👍🏻
Found the following gig in the Welwyn Times and Hatfield Herald:
21 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall with The Easybeats and The Hello
Hi Nick .
I remember a gig at Streatham ice rink . When Dennis had to use the “in house” organ . Unfortunately not being familiar with it , he pressed something causing the organ to move forward , knocking over the drummer and kit in front of him .
Café Royal . Where the drummer was hammering 6 inch nails into the stage to secure his bass drum . Whoops .
Kingston (college I think) supporting the Marmalade . There is a quite good colour photo of this around .
Chelsea Barracks . An audition for opportunity knocks for Hughie Green . We passed but it clashed with bookings .
Brize Norton RAF base
High Wycombe Dawes Hill American base .
Bracknell . Another one with Kenny Ball . Where him and his band were to be found playing darts at half time .
Folkeston . On the day two poor souls crashed their light aircraft .
Bell House hotel Gerrards Cross . With I think one of the BBC’s radio orchestra’s .
Samantha’s . Where the D.J.’s deck was built into the front half of an e-type .
If any more can be thought of will get back .
Hope this remembered correctly . And is helpful .
Thanks John
Like others would like to know if Richard Bennett is back in England .
Hi Nick,
My name is Geoff Foster and I joined The Army on Lead Guitar and backing vocals shortly after Steve Preist left. I was guitarist with the Casuals before joining the Army. The Bass player was Chris ? from Acton at that time. George Russell & John Barter remain friends and we get together occasionally and chat about those days. John mailed me about this site. The band folded when Richard Bennett moved to Australia and I lost contact with him. After a short break I became a founder member of Orange Rainbow, 11 piece band, George Russell & John Barter were guest Sax Players for quite some time. Alan Ray was Vocalist and a close school friend from age 11, we played in various bands together over the years.I left Orange Rainbow in 1970 and continue to play to this day.
Hi Everyone,
I found two songs from the Army on Ric´s Soundcloud, “Sugar” and “You don´t know like I know” perhaps there have more songs of this time survived on tapes or live recordings on tape , does anyone have still tapes of this time
Hi Rocnus. could you let me know how I can find and hear the two songs “Suger” and ” you don’t know like I know” thanks Rocnus All the best George..
Hi George. Here you can find them
https://soundcloud.com/ric-bennett
Did you played these songs live?
All the best Rochus
Hi Rochus yes we did play them live at most of the gigs. we had so many on the play list. all the best George
When the band broke up, Geoff Foster joined Orange Rainbow. John Barter and George Russell also briefly played with them. The line up according to Geoff was:
Alan Ray-Vocals
Geoff Foster-Lead Guitar
Terry May-Keyboards
Dave Goodman-Bass
Martin Bryan-Drums
Robin Lawrence-Tenor Sax
Martin Hayes – Trumpet
Rodney Barrett-Trombone
George Russell-Alto Sax
John Barter-Tenor & Baritone Sax
Hi Ron It’s really great to know your in touch with Rich I’ve only just got in touch with him myself. isn’t it just amazing after all these years. and that its all down on paper. photos. and remembered. anyway Ron let me know how life’s been with you. I still see John a fare bit. all the best George
Hi Tony it’s great to hear from you and to you remember me. we had some really good times you alway had a joke and saw the funny side of things.I can’t remember what happen to that 10″coaster LP’ I’ll remind John when I phone him I also see him now and again he lives in HighWycome now so I just get to see him a few times a year I don’t know if you know? he married one of my cousins. I live in Woolmer Green near Knebworth. it’s 1/2 way between welwyn garden city & Stevenage Hertford .its nice to know your still in touch with Ian Gillan he was always a really nice bloke.I always remember I brought a VOX amp from him he was selling off I went round his house with John to get it he was still Iiveing with his mum. It will be really great to communicate off site and keep in touch. Rich Bennett got in touch it was really good he’s getting well and he’s in touch with Alan. Ron. & still with Steve. I don’t know if you got it but you can see him on. Ric Bennett/Soundcloud .com. anyway Tony. I let you know more next time let me know if you get this O K all the best for now. George
Hi George
I remember you well. Have you still got that 10″ Coasters LP that I sold you for 10 bob when I was skint back in those days. Great times! Ask John if he remembers the card school at my Dad’s house after the Carlton gig in the photo. (Good job my old man was away). Ian Gillan, me, John and about 4 others. All night session. Some of them were wiped out by next morning.
So many memories of those days. I corrected some of the things posted in the article here and it can be found on this link :-http://thestrangebrew.co.uk/articles/the-army
written up by Nick Warburton who got the story right.
I left Hayes in 1978 to work in Lincoln and am still there. Now retired but still playing lead for a local band “Somethin Else”. All old rockers except the singer (a kid of 52) doing 50’s and ’60’s rock and roll. More gear and guitars than I ever had back then when a set of new strings had to be saved for!
Still in touch with Ian Gillan and we had a reunion last December with the members of our old band the Javelins (63-65) in Windsor on a boat on the Thames. Ian had just finished a tour with Deep Purple in London.
After I left the Army to get married I happened to buy the house next door to John and his parents (a lovely couple). I recently looked at it on Google maps, what a shock; it’s really gone downhill since 1978.
I have never heard from any other Army members so I’m pleased that you are in touch and hope that we can find a way to communicate outside this website. But in the meantime, George………….
Best wishes
Tony
The Andover Advertiser lists The Satellites playing at Fiesta Hall, Andover on 22 April 1966. I presume this is the same group that became The Army
Found a gig for The Satellites who I assume are the Army’s predecessor at the Fiesta Hall, Andover on 29 January 1965 (Andover Advertiser)
Hi Nick your right it was the” Army”before we changed the name. the lineup was the same. we had done quite a few gigs as the Satellites before we changed the name as well as the one with Spencer Davis Group were there was a joke about the number of us in the group l know it was because I was there setting up on stage when it was said ” like a army of us” it’s just I’m not shore if it was Spencer Davis. or Steve Winwood that said it.
anyway Nick nice to hear from you again .any more thought on a magazine or book with all this sixty groups? all the best .. George
If I can the resources I would love to do one on the West London scene. Can you remember when you joined The Satellites? I know you left Jeff Curtis July 65. I assumed it was mid-1966
Hi Nick. yes I can remember when I joined The Satellites. and it was the same year I left Jeff Curtis it was about late August or just into September because Jeff Lake and me went off on holiday in July 65 but before we went Jeff Curtis had put out a ad for two sax players to cover. I was there when they came to tryout there was a older bloke and John Barter. and that was it. I went off on holiday .and on return I found out Jeff Curtis had decided not have sax’s anymore.I was’nt worried.. and then it was only about 2-3 week later a knock on my door and it was John Barter and he said.do you fancy joining a group the Satellites. and that was it. ( the start of the Satellites to- Army) and it’s funny that(Richard Bennett-John Barter & me are the only ones in the Army from start to the end ..
( by the way Nick I’m not sure ifJeff Lake had said but the reason we went on holiday when we did was because where. Jeff worked closed down for the two weeks as a lot did..) hope this is a lot of help George..
Hi George
I think you are about one year out. I joined the Satellites in mid-1966. Prior to that I had been in another band with John Barter. I asked him to join the Satellites a bit later and he in turn asked you. So, we are talking July/August 1966 for certain. Nick has already written the Army history up about this time. After you joined we changed the name to The Army by discussion within the band and Richard painted up the van.
Later the trumpet player joined after he saw the van in my works car park and asked me if we needed a trumpet in the line-up.
I don’t recall doing a gig with Spencer Davis Group during my time with the Satellites/Army. Perhaps Nick has details on when that was………
Cheers
Tony
Hi Tony sorry about getting the dates wrong . I think you must be right about it being 1966 it’s just that I’m sure it wasn’t a full year from leaving Jeff Curtis it a bit later when me and Jeff Lake left. I will have a chat with him when we meet up for a drink. I do know that we use to go down to Spain ( and had been for a few years) the last being the same weeks of the wining of the World Cup ( not haveing any interest in foot ball) I don’t know what time of year it was? (but we did have a few beers or more) we were there for the semi and final . that was me Jeff Lake. Malcolm Tagg and a few more. hope I haven’t gone on a bit it’s just a of background . the Spencer Davis gig really was. I remember Richard doing the van he was a really good sigh writer and it was in high vis paint.. anyway I hope you and your family are keeping well..all the best. George
Hi Jeff,
The World Cup Final was 30 July 1966. I know it was July 1965 you left Jeff. Did you play with anyone else for that year before joining The Satellites? Interesting that Malcolm Tagg Randall with you as he was with the Manchester Playboys at that point
Hi Nick thanks for the dates of the World Cup just shows how much I know about foot ball. your right it was July 1965 I left Jeff Curtis. sorry about that Nick. I worked it out now. no I did’nt play with anyone else before joining The Satellites. as for Malcolm Tagg Randall being with us in Spain. I’ll have see if Jeff Lake can remember? It’s just that we had been going for a few year from early 1960’s and can,t remember him not being with us . I hope that got thing sorter Nick sorry again for any confused bits on my part. let me know if that’s alright now..all the best George..
Found some more missing gigs in Melody Maker
24 November 1967 – Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, Middlesex with Fulson Stillwell Band
27 November 1967 – Plough, Stockwell, London
1 December 1967 – Starting Gate, Wood Green, London
Dennis White left The Army and joined
our band Merlín ‘q’. Also our drummer Eddie Richards was in Steve Priests first band at school. Merlin ‘q’ toured GB also backing American soul singers on their visits to Europe.
MerlinQ was also Wally Scott from the Bad Boys and Andy Locke. Before Eddie Richards joined on drums Chris Jackson from the Tomcats was on sticks. Dave Kerr-Clemenson, Andy Locke, Wally Scott and Eddie Richards went on to become the touring Edison Lighthouse. At this point Denis White left the band
Few more:
Melody Maker notes that The Satellites played at the Hopbine in North Wembley quite a few times in early 1965
This one (from Dorset Evening Echo) could be one of Steve Priest’s final gigs.
10 February 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
According to Luton News, The Army played at Dunstable Civic Hall with Spectrum on 10 May 1968
Found the Cardiff gig that Tony Tacon mentions above. It took place at the Kookoo-Byrd Discotheque on 11 February 1967
Hi Nick I haven’t heard from anybody for a long time. That Cardiff gig if I remember was the one we only got to do the first half because they were expecting a black soul group and all us being white it didn’t go down well so we had to do a quick exit. but they were good they paid us for the Whole gig it was the agents fault anyway Nick hope to hear from you soon. I seem to have lost Richards email I haven’t heard from him for a long time all the best. George.
Few more Army gigs that may be missing
25 February 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
29 April 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
3 March 1968 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire
25 May 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Alfred The Great
30 May 1968 – St Andrew’s Hall, Uxbridge, London
14 June 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
10 August 1968 – Styx Discotheque, Luton, Bedfordshire
According to Frank Torpey’s memory, Steve Priest had left to form the Sweet by 5 February 1968:
https://sweet.thesweetweb.com/sweet-was-born/
However, judging by the photo at the top from the Grange, dated 15 February 1968, with Steve Priest in the photo, it seems likely that he was just rehearsing with the Sweet and hadn’t officially left.
This one is from Manchester Evening News:
18 March 1967 – At the Union, Manchester with St Louis Union and Sound Venture
This is from Surrey Mirror:
20 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Radio Disc Show with Stuart Henry
George Russell passed away on 8 March 2020
Thank you for this wonderful site which gave my Dad such wonderful memories and helped him get back in touch with old band mates. I know it really perked him up when he was having some bad days.
According to this site, The Satellites played at the Royal Ballroom, Boscombe, Bournemouth on 27 July 1966:
https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/
This would have been before the horn players arrived.
Two gigs as The Satellites before the formation change
19 September 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
1 June 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)