Dave Whittaker (aka Chet Mason) (lead vocals/congas)
Del Grace (lead guitar)
Bruce Duckworth (rhythm guitar)
Mick Kinzett (bass/manager) replaced by Mick Holland (bass)
Mick Fletcher (keyboards)
Dave Rolfick (baritone sax)
Mick Lye (tenor sax)
Rodney Peters (aka Karl Lee) (drums)
Formed as Karl Lee & The Epitaphs in Welling, southeast London in January 1963, they changed name to The Epitaphs in 1964 and then The Epitaph Soul Band in 1965.
Most of the group’s members were from the Sidcup/Bexley area although Lye came from Battersea and Rolfick was from Streatham.
The group often played at the Black Prince Hotel in Bexley. Len Fletcher who ran the club was their manager.
Del Grace says the band’s line-up was fluid with musicians coming and going. The spelling may not be correct for some of the players listed above.
Bruce Duckworth didn’t stay long and they stuck with only one guitarist after he departed.
Mick Holland joined on bass in 1964 so that Mick Kinzett could assume road management duties.
The band’s van was involved in a horrific crash on Rochester Way in October 1964 (see newspaper clipping below) and two of the members were hospitalised. Mick Holland was so badly injured that he couldn’t continue with the group.
The group was put on hold until early February 1965 when it was reformed with the following musicians:
Dave Whitaker (aka Chet Mason) (lead vocals/congas)
Del Grace (lead guitar)
Mick Fletcher (keyboards)
John James (bass) (possibly also known as John Porter)
Dave Rolfick (baritone sax)
Mick Lye (tenor sax)
Rodney Peters (aka Karl Lee) (drums)
The new formation played at the Black Prince Hotel in Bexley on Sunday, 21 February and began working as the resident band at the Last Chance Club in Oxford Street, central London.
Towards the end of 1965 Del Grace’s friend Andy Clark came in on baritone sax.
Soon after Mick Fletcher joined The Sound System who backed Jimmy Cliff before working with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement, The Rifle (reuniting with Del Grace) and The Amboy Dukes.
2 May 1964 – Beat Group Contest, Wickham Hall, West Wickham, Kent with The Blackhawks, Chris Finn & The Solents, The Sonics, The Melvin Toole Combo, The Original Deltones, The Electrons, The Copains, The Consorts and Paul & The Playboys (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser) Billed as The Epitaphs
Festival review in the same newspaper, 25 June 1965, page 12
30 June 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
25 July 1965 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Spencer Davis Group (Melody Maker)
Thanks to Del Grace for the photos. This is a very brief overview, and we’d welcome any additional information in the comments section below.
Hi I’m third from the right in the second picture down.
I was in the van when we crashed into the concrete lamp post on the Rochester way, I was sitting behind Del Grace in the van on the right hand side, most of us on the right got away with minor injuries but those on the left had some pretty bad stuff, I think probably Karl was the worst affected.
I remember seeing the Epitaphs play at the Black Prince, and it must have been the February 65 date because I recall something being said about the crash. The chief memory I have is seeing Mick Fletcher on the stage, because we had been at the same school and I hadn’t seen him since. I had no idea he was playing in bands, so I was greatly surprised to see him on keyboards. Do you have any idea what happened to him after the Amboy Dukes?
Sorry been unable to track him down but I suspect he’s sadly not with us anymore
I have a note that after Alan Whitehead left LOOSE ENDS in September or October 66, he was briefly with COPS’N’ROBBERS then joined the EPITAPH SOUL BAND, but left in Dec 66 he joined The ATTACK (later with Marmalade). Possibly filling in after van crashed if Karl mentioned in Ian Kinzett’s comment was Carl the drummer ? What did Ian play ?
There is also an EMIdisc listed on 45cat vinyl database of The Epitaph Soul Band playing Out Of Sight
Sorry Nick, just realised the note about Whitehead comes from your article about Loose Ends !
Hi Dave
Yes Carl was the drummer,
At the time I was getting guitar lessons from Del Grace, at the time I went around to all the gigs recording the band which was pretty cool as I was only about 15 at the time, my two brothers looked after me as one was the bass guitarist at the beginning and the other was road manager.
The Epitaphs played the 100 Club in London on 01/10/64 supporting The Graham Bond Organisation and again on the 15/10/64 supporting The Tridents.
They played the Flamingo Club in Wardour Street on 17/07/65 supporting Tony Colton and The Big Boss Band
According to Record Mirror, The Epitaphs opened for The Graham Bond Organisation at 100 Club on Oxford Street, central London on 1 October 1964.
According to Record Mirror, the band opened for the Tridents on 15 Oct 64 at the 100 Club