Alan Chamberlain – lead vocals
Bernie Jory – lead guitar
Colin Cookson – rhythm guitar
John Towell – bass
Hans Herbert – drums
This was as Dalston, north London band and also included two sax players, including one called Graham either before or after Herbert worked with them.
They were formerly known as The Just Four and featured a drummer called Kenny Davis. Herbert hailed from Ealing and had previously worked with The Flexmen. Before joining, he worked with The Rumours.
Herbert recalls how he came to take over from Kenny Davis: “I got a call which must have been from Alan Chamberlain,” he says. “They had a radio show to do in London in a studio on Tottenham Court Road or somewhere and they didn’t have a drummer. My name popped up somehow, probably through Jim Marshall’s shop. I did the session and they asked me to stay with them, which I did.”
In early 1966, Herbert says he did a studio session with The Animals when John Steel left but Barry Jenkins from The Nashville Teens got the job.
The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette ran a story on The Guests in its 24 June 1966 issue, page 2. The newspaper notes that the group recorded two tracks at Decca Recording Studios in mid-June; a cover of Ray Davies “When I See That Girl of Mine” c/w “Solitude”. It says the single is due for release in late July/early August.
The paper says The Guests have already played at Tiles Club, Oxford Street, Wimbledon Palais, High Wycombe Town Hall, Leystonstone Baths and the Rambling Rose Club. It also says they practise at Southall Community Centre every Tuesday evening.
Herbert recalls that during his time with The Guests, the group backed Edwin Starr, and (possibly) Ben E King and The Drifters, including at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester (most likely 18 October 1966). He also says that his mother helped secure some of the gigs.
11 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (Melody Maker)
24 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Fleur De Lys and C-Jam Blues Band (Melody Maker)
8 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Robert Parker and Wynder K Frog (website: https://www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/gigs-1966.htm) Alan Chamberlain remembers they appeared backing Robert Parker
15 October 1966 – 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with Bluesology (Kentish Express)
16 October 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed Edwin Starr for a week around this time
4 November 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Graham Bond Organisation (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
In November/December 1966, Hans Herbert joined The All Night Workers and Bernie Jory joined The Mickey Finn.