Dickie Pride (lead vocals)

Gery L Thompson (lead vocals)

Len Neldrett (lead guitar)

Jimmy Scott (congas)

Matthew Hutchinson (piano)

Mark Charig (trumpet)

Johnnie Marshall (baritone sax)

Tex Makins (bass)

Malcolm Penn (drums)

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Boz Burrell (second lead vocals)

The Sidewinders pre-existed sometime before mid-1965 but Malcolm Penn says the line-up above dates from May that year when the remaining members of the original formation joined forces with players from Dickie Pride & The Original Topics.

Dickie Pride, Len Neldrett and Malcolm Penn had all previously been members of The Original Topics, formed in the Tolworth, Surbiton and Chessington area of Surrey.

Prior to joining the Sidewinders, Tex Makins and Johnnie Marshall (real name: John Renforth) had both played with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames.

Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott is best known as the musician who inspired Paul McCartney to write “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”, a phrase he originally used. He had also done some work with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames before joining.

Marshall, Scott and Matthew Hutchinson had all been in the original band, which was led by Jamaican singer Gery  L Thompson who only stayed until about early September 1965.

The original formation also included Jamaican trumpet player Roy Edwards, future Led Zeppelin bass player John Baldwin (aka John Paul Jones) and a drummer called Min.

Some of the gigs during June-August were billed as Gery L Thompson & The Sidewinders.

In early November 1965, Boz Burrell, who years later found fame with King Crimson and Bad Company, joined as a second lead vocalist after his group, The Boz People, had folded. The group’s keyboard player Ian McLagan had joined The Small Faces in the first week of November just before the group splintered.

Burrell had initially deputised for Pride when he was unavailable. It was so successful that the group decided to carry on with two singers when Pride returned.  While with The Sidewinders, Burrell released two singles on Columbia.

When The Sidewinders folded in June 1966, Malcolm Penn (and Len Neldrett) joined south London band, Moon’s Train, managed by Rolling Stones’ bass player Bill Wyman who oversaw the group’s recordings, including their debut single “Deed I Do”.

Len Neldrett who was studying graphic design subsequently did sessions for The End, featuring his old friend Nicky Graham. He later moved to Spain and worked with former Los Bravos singer Mike Kennedy.

Mark Charig briefly worked with Sonny Childe & The TNT before joining Bluesology, just before Reg Dwight (aka Elton John) left. David Else notes that he subsequently worked with The Keith Tippett Band and The Brotherhood of Breath.

Jimmy Scott later did session work at Maximum Sound and also recorded material there, which was released by Revolution Records. Years later he worked with Bad Manners.

David Else says that Johnnie Marshall rejoined Georgie Fame before later working with J J Jackson. Marshall died on 15 May 2017.

Boz Burrell released two singles on Columbia in quick succession – “Pinochio” on 10 June 1966 and “The Baby Song” on 29 July 1966.

He then reformed The Boz People for a tour with Dusty Springfield (27 September-8 October 1966), which featured Groundhogs’ guitarist Tony McPhee and former Mark Leeman Five keyboard player Tom Parker in his group.

Makins meanwhile may have spent some time with Leapers, Creepers, Sleepers in the latter half of 1966.

Burrell returned to Norwich where he joined local band Feel for Soul in June 1967 and stayed until October.

He then reunited with Makins in the short-lived Panorama in December 1967 alongside guitarist Colin Pincott, drummer Roy Mills and Australian Hammond organist Peter Beagley (later musician Peter Head). David Else notes that the original keyboard player was Mike O’Neill (not Nero of The Gladiators) and the drummer was originally Pete Williams.

In 1968, Burrell recorded two further singles for Columbia Records. Beagley confirms he was on the cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released”.

Makins meanwhile joined The Flowerpot Men in February 1968. The English pop group, which was created in 1967 as a result of the single, “Let’s Go to San Francisco”, was a studio recording construct created by John Carter and Ken Lewis, originally the main songwriters for The Ivy League. Makins toured with David Garrick later that year alongside drummer Carlo Little.

Len Neldrett notes that The Sidewinders (minus Makins who was replaced by Boots Slade) reunited for a one-off gig as Jimmy Scott’s Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Band on 2 December 1968.

The group comprising Jimmy Scott, Dickie Pride, Len Neldrett, Malcolm Penn, Johnnie Marshall, Mark Charig, Matthew Hutchinson and Boots Slade played at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley, Surrey.

Dickie Pride died of a heroin overdose on 26 March 1969.

In June 1969, Makins reunited with Jimmy Scott to form the short-lived Jungle Soup which subsequently morphed into The Last Supper.

Selected Sidewinders’ gigs:

28 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) Billed as Gery L Thompson & The Sidewinders

1 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alex Harvey Soul Band (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4 July 1965 – Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London (NME) Billed as Gery L Thompson & The Sidewinders

8 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

10 July 1965 – Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London with Herbie Goins & The Night Timers (NME/Record Mirror) Billed as Gery L Thompson & The Sidewinders

15 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alex Harvey Soul Band (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

17 July 1965 – Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (NME/Record Mirror) Billed as Gery L Thompson & The Sidewinders

23 July 1965 – Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London with Five Proud Walkers (NME/Record Mirror) Billed as Gery L Thompson & The Sidewinders

29 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Graham Bond Organisation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

30 July 1965 – Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, southwest London with The RBQ (NME)

5 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Mike Cotton Sound (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

12 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Graham Bond Organisation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

19 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Steampacket (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

20 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 September 1965 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as Garry & The Sidewinders

15 October 1965 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey with Keith Powell & The Rivals (Surrey Advertiser)

17 October 1965 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, London (website: http://www.eelpiemuseum.co.uk/rollcall/rollcall/)

5 November 1965 – Harvest Moon Club, Guildford, Surrey with The Overriders (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as Sidewinders with Boz

2 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) Billed as Boz & The Sidewinders 

4 December 1965 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex with support (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) Billed as Boz & The Sidewinders

19 December 1965 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

31 December 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London followed by a private party in Highgate Village (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

1966

9 January 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Emeralds (Aldershot News/Camberley News) Advert mistakenly says ‘Original Georgie Fame Group featuring Phil Seaman on drums’

14 January 1966 – Co-op Hall, Grays, Essex (Melody Maker)

19 January 1966 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, west London with Lee Dorsey & The Krew (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

20 January 1966 – Briefing for start of the Stevie Wonder Tour (no rehearsal!) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

21 January 1966 – Flamingo Club, Wardour Street, central London (start of Stevie Wonder tour) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

21 January 1966 – The In Place, central London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

21 January 1966 – Flamingo Club, Wardour Street, central London with Little Stevie Wonder (Allnighter) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

22 January 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Little Stevie Wonder (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

22 January 1966 – All Star Club, Bishopsgate, east London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

23 January 1966 – Oasis Club, Manchester with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

23 January 1966 – Cavern Club, Liverpool with Little Stevie Wonder and other acts (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

26 January 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

26 January 1966 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, west London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

27 January 1966 – Ricky Tick Club, Windsor, Berkshire with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

28 January 1966 – Mr McCoys Club, Middlesborough with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

29 January 1966 – Birmingham (first venue, no record of the club venue name) with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

29 January 1966 – Birmingham (second venue, no record of the club venue name) with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

30 January 1966 – Flamingo Club, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

30 January 1966 – Macador Club, central London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

1 February 1966 – Klooks Kleek, Hampstead, north London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

1 February 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

2 February 1966 – TWW TV Studios, Bristol with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

3 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Little Stevie Wonder (Birmingham Evening Mail)

4 February 1966 – Manchester (first venue, no record of the club venue name) with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

4 February 1966 – Manchester (second venue, no record of the club venue name) with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

5 February 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, west London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

5 February 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

6 February 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with Little Stevie Wonder (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary) David Else says Charlie Foxx was on the bill as well

7 February 1966 – St Joseph’s Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire with Little Stevie Wonder & The Alan Bown Set (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

7 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Little Stevie Wonder (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) This was the end of the Stevie Wonder tour

9 February 1966 – Playhouse Theatre, Charing Cross, central London (BBC Jazz Beat Recording) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

Boz Burrell’s debut single on Columbia “Isn’t That So” was released on 11 February. 

11 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

12 February 1966 – Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

4 March 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

5 March 1966 – Zambezi Club, Hounslow, west London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary) David Else has the band backing Sonny Childe at the King Mojo on this date

11 March 1966 – Corn Exchange, Kings Lynn, Norfolk (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

12 March 1966 – University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

12 March 1966 – All Star Club, Bishopsgate, east London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

18 March 1966 – Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, northwest London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

20 March 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

21 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) This is billed as Boz and new group but most likely The Sidewinders

25 March 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

26 March 1966 – Holbeach, Lincolnshire (no record of the club venue name) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

27 March 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London with The Soul Pushers (Melody Maker)

31 March 1966 – The Village, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

1 April 1966 – Farnborough, Hampshire (no record of the club venue name but possibly Carousel Club) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

1 April 1966 – Cromwellian Club, South Kensington, London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

2 April 1966 – Jigsaw Club, Manchester (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

2 April 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

3 April 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

Boz Burrell’s second Columbia single “Meeting Time” was released on 7 April

13 April 1966 – Britannia Boat Club, Nottingham (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

14 April 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

15 April 1996 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

16 April 1966 – Oasis Club, Manchester (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

16 April 1966 – Palais Ballroom, Bury (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

17 April 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

23 April 1966 – Patrick (Tara) Browne’s 21 Birthday party, Luggala, Co Wicklow, Eire (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

1 May 1966 – Downes Hotel, Hassocks, West Sussex with Beryl Marsden and also Four and Seven Eights (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary/Mid Sussex Times) Billed as Boz, The Sidewinders, Dicky Pride and Beryl Marsden

5 May 1966 – Klooks Kleek, Hampstead, north London (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

7 May 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire with Jackie Edwards (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

14 May 1966 – Stamford R&B Club, Stamford Hotel, Stamford, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal) With Sonny Childe

15 May 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

29 May 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)

25 June 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, north London (final Sidewinders gig) (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

I’d especially like to thank Malcolm Penn for providing the photos on the band and for also providing some background information on the group. Thank you too for correcting and adding to the gig list above.

Massive thank you also to David Else for helping out with research, correcting some facts and adding material.

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