Alan Smith – lead guitar
Roger Smith – rhythm guitar
Keith Greaves – bass
Ron Prior – drums
Former Highlights and Magnets singer/turned drummer put this band together in 1962 with Chertsey, Surrey-raised brothers Alan and Roger Smith.
Like Prior’s previous band The Magnets, The Black Arrows played extensively throughout Surrey, including appearing frequently at the Walton Playhouse (see 1962 on that entry).
Although The Black Arrows did not record, all of the members (with the exception of Alan Smith) stayed on when the group became The Legends (not to be confused with the west London band of the same name) in 1965.
Ron would love to hear from any surviving band members in the comments section below
Wow I was only talking about the Black Arrows this morning with my husband – when someone mentioned Abbey Road Chertsey – where The Smith family lived and believe it or not in that tiny terrace house front room they held band practice !!! My late brother Gordon Blackwood was their singer not sure what year – but I knew Alan and Roger but their Dad played bass in the days I was watching them practice – and a guy called Bass was on keyboards – the whole of Abbey Road could hear them practice but didn’t complain. They were really good and I remember Alan had a Fender guitar. I also got them booked at my school leaving dance in about 1964. Lovely happy memories.
The colour of those jackets were mustard with black lapels – and I have a pic somewhere showing the group with my late brother as singer at Wentworth Golf club New Year’s Eve dinner and dance ! Also the group were resident band at Haying Island dance venue !