Wimbledon Palais was a significant music venue in Southwest London. I’d be grateful for any additions and corrections to the list below as there are many gaps in the listings:
1960
20 March (Sunday) (audition) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 May (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 May (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 June (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 October (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 October (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 November (Friday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1961
29 January (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 February (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1 October (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1962
8 April (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 June (Friday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
1 July (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 October (Thursday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)
1963
9 August (Friday) – Sounds Incorporated (Beat Monthly)
23 August (Friday) – The Searchers (Beat Monthly)
31 August (Saturday) – Gene Vincent (Streatham News)
6 September (Friday) – Gerry & The Pacemakers (Beat Monthly)
22 November (Friday) – Freddie & The Dreamers (Beat Monthly)
24 November (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesmen (audition) (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 December (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1964
3 January (Friday) – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Beat Monthly)
17 January (Friday) – Gene Vincent & The Shouts with The Demons and The Chantones (Streatham News)
24 January (Friday) – The Rolling Stones (Beat Monthly)
8 February (Saturday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans (Beat Monthly)
9 February (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 February (Saturday) – Freddie & The Dreamers (Beat Monthly)
3 April (Friday) – The Rolling Stones (Beat Monthly)
10 April (Friday) – Manfred Mann (Streatham News and Beat Monthly)
24 April (Friday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans (Beat Monthly)
8 May (Friday) – Little Richard with The Flintstones (Streatham News)
15 May (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
According to Jeff Sturgeon, this was the first gig under the new name, a slight change from Jean & The Statesmen.
26 May (Tuesday) – Little Richard (with The Flintstones?) (Streatham News)
29 May (Friday) – The Kinks, The Demons and The Chantons (Streatham News)
5 June (Friday) – The Paramounts, The Demons and The Chantons (Streatham News)
14 June (Sunday) – The Yardbirds and The Grebbels (Streatham News)
19 June (Friday) – The Crickets with supporting groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
20 June (Saturday) – Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
21 June (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 June (Friday) – Millie & The Five Embers (Kingston & Malden Borough News and Streatham News)
27 June (Saturday) – Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
3 July (Friday) – The Animals, The Demons and The Trojans (Kingston & Malden Borough News and Streatham News)
4 July (Saturday) – Three beat groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
10 July (Friday) – Manfred Mann and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 July (Saturday) – Buddy Britten & The Regents and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 July (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
17 July (Friday) – Four groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
18 July (Saturday) – The Searchers and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Kingston & Malden Borough News notes The Searchers, The Original Topics and Cats Whiskers on 18 July 1964
24 July (Friday) – The Migil Five and two groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
25 July (Saturday) – Three beat groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
31 July (Friday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
1 August (Saturday) – The Hunters, The Midnites and The Demons (Dave Brogden’s diary/Kingston & Malden Borough News)
7 August (Friday) – Lulu & Luvvers, The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
8 August (Saturday) – The Hunters, The Demons and The Echolettes (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
14 August (Friday) – The Rolling Stones, The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
15 August (Saturday) – The Hunters, The Demons and The Thyrds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
21 August (Friday) – Helen Shapiro & The Trebletones, The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
22 August (Saturday) – The Hunters, The Demons and The Four Aces (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
28 August (Friday) – The Mojos, The Demons and The UKs (Kingston and Malden Borough News and Streatham News)
29 August (Saturday) – The Hunters, The Demons and Scene IV (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
4 September (Friday) – The Applejacks (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
18 September (Friday) – The Pretty Things with Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
25 September (Friday) – The Barron Knights, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
26 September (Saturday) – Mike Rabin & The Demons, The Detours (The Who?) and Scene IV (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
2 October (Friday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
3 October (Saturday) – Three groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
9 October (Friday) – Herman’s Hermits, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
10 October (Saturday) – Three groups (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
16 October (Friday) – Bern Elliott & The Klan, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
17 October (Saturday) – Dave Ede & The Rabin Band and Mike Rabin & The Demons (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
23 October (Friday) – The Four Pennies, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
24 October (Saturday) – Dave Ede & The Rabin Band and Mike Rabin & The Demons (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
30 October (Friday) – The Bo Street Runners (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
31 October (Saturday) – David Ede & The Rabin Band and Mike Rabin & The Demons (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
1 November (Sunday) – All Britain Beat Contest (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
6 November (Friday) – The Naturals, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The Echolettes (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
13 November (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Beat Instrumental)
20 November (Friday) – The Hollies, Mark Rabin & The Demons and Scene V (Streatham News)
4 December (Friday) – Jerry Lee Lewis, The Plebs, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The Hideways (Streatham News)
11 December (Friday) – Gene Vincent and The Londoners (Streatham News)
1965
26 February (Friday) – The Nashville Teens (Beat Instrumental)
12 March (Friday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)
19 March (Friday) – The Yardbirds (Streatham News)
30 April (Friday) – The Ivy League (Beat Instrumental)
3 May (Monday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s diary)
14 May (Friday) – Them (Streatham News)
27 June (Sunday) – Pink Floyd (Streatham News)
2 July (Friday) – The Yardbirds (Streatham News and Beat Instrumental)
6 August (Friday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Monthly)
15 October (Friday) – The Four Pennies (Boyfriend magazine)
22 October (Friday) – Them (Streatham News)
24 October (Sunday) – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Jim St Pier’s diary)
26 November (Friday) – The Who (Andy Neill’s research and Beat Instrumental)
3 December (Friday) – The Kinks (West Norwood and Dulwich News)
10 December (Friday) – The Hollies (West Norwood and Dulwich News)
17 December (Friday) – The McCoys (West Norwood and Dulwich News)
24 December (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 December (Friday) – The Checkmates (West Norwood and Dulwich News)
1966
1 January (Saturday) – The Small Faces (West Norwood and Dulwich News)
7 January (Friday) – Dave Berry & The Cruisers (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
8 January (Saturday) – The Motivation (Melody Maker)
This was the original Norbury, south London version of the group
14 January (Friday) – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
21 January (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
22 January (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
28 January (Friday) – Unit Four Plus 2 (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
4 February (Friday) – Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
11 February (Friday) – The Who, Hamilton & The Movement and The Mike Rabin Group (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
18 February (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
21 February (Monday) – The Pretty Things (Streatham News)
25 February (Friday) – The Sorrows (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
4 March (Friday) – Wayne Fontana & The Opposition (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
5 March (Saturday) – The Animals (Streatham News)
6 March (Sunday) – The Kinks (Streatham News)
11 March (Friday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
18 March (Friday) – The Mindbenders (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
20 March (Sunday) – The Riot Squad (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)
25 March (Friday) – The St Louis Union (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
26 March (Saturday) – Episode Six (Melody Maker)
1 April (Friday) – The Overlanders (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
8 April (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
22 April (Friday) – The Yardbirds (Streatham News)
29 April (Friday) – Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
6 May (Friday) – The Small Faces (Streatham News)
11 May (Wednesday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
13 May (Friday) – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)
20 May (Friday) – The Alan Price Set (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
27 May (Friday) – Hedgehoppers Anonymous (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
3 June (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
10 June (Friday) – Paul & Barry Ryan with Robb Storme & The Whispers (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury/Jim St Pier’s gig diary)
17 June (Friday) – The Four Pennies (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
1 July (Friday) – The Creation (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury and Fabulous 208)
22 July (Friday) – Unit Four Plus Two (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
12 August (Friday) – Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
19 August (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Streatham News and Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
26 August (Friday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
2 September (Friday) – Crispian St Peters (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
11 September (Sunday) – The Syrians (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
18 September (Sunday) – The Syrians (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
15 October (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)
28 October (Friday) – The Merseys (Streatham News and Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
5 November (Saturday) – Peter & Gordon (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
12 November (Saturday) – The Small Faces, Paul Anka and The Fourmost (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
28 November (Monday) – The Kinks (Streatham News)
10 December (Saturday) – The Merseys and Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
16 December (Friday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Mitcham News & Mercury)
23 December (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
30 December (Friday) – The Nashville Teens (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
Neil Christian & The Crusaders replaced them.
1967
6 January (Friday) – The Nashville Teens (Fabulous 208)
4 February (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children and The Attack (Fabulous 208)
10 February (Friday) – The Troggs (Streatham News)
24 March (Friday) – Cat Stevens (Fabulous 208)
7 July (Friday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
8 July (Saturday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
14 July (Friday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
15 July (Saturday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
21 October (Saturday) – Jo Jo Gunne and Tony Rivers & The Castaways (needs source but possibly Streatham News)
Huge thanks to Rolf Hannet for sharing his copies of Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental
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 note that The Riot squad are mentioned. I believe that Mitch mitchell was one time drummer with this band. I seem to remember him when they were on tour with the Kinks in 65 or 66
Hi Alan
Mitch Mitchell’s involvement in the Riot Squad is noted here:
http://thebritishsound.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/riot-squad-family-tree.html
According to Dave Brogden’s excellent diary, Wainwright’s Gentlemen played at this venue on 3 May 1965. This appears to be one of the first gigs the band played after Ian Gillan left them. Mick Tucker, who later played with the Sweet, was on drums.
Hi, I played bass with the Mike Rabin resident band at The Palais “The Demons”,
first night we played was supporting Billy J Kramer, the place was jammed, after that gig I was never “nervous” before playing a gig again !!!.
I recall the following week Gerry and the Pacemakers played, they were so good !! must have been 1963, I guess.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gene-Vincent-Concert-Poster-Wimbledon-Palais-1964/162028302754?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36799%26meid%3Dadf897e12fed4be1b5c19671c95464c9%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D350287390497
I too have this poster as my Dad was lead singer in The Chantones.
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames played at the Palais. I can’t remember the exact date but I guess it was 1965 or 1966. I remember it well: I was right up at the front!
Hi. My Dads band was the resident band every week until 1964. The Chantones. Does anyone know how I can get any old photos or film. There must be some somewhere. I’ve emailed a few but no one replys. Any help would be great. Many thanks. Karen.
Hi Karen, I was was just doing a bit of family research online and this post came up.
My cousin Kate Escombe married Sydney Gedge in 1888. The marriage lasted 10 years, and I’m trying to discover whether there are any descendants from it. There are a few Escombe-Gedges around – Darren in Margate and Jeremy in London.. are these relatives of yours?
Any info would be very welcome! Look forward to hearing from you.
Piers Graham (in Colchester).
Two sons
Francis Escombe Gedge 1880-1968
Donald Robert William Gedge 1894-
Kate married after Sydney death (on a ship returning from South Africa) m.(2) Revd Henry Tower d.1948
Plaque in St Michael’s Church, Horton commemorating Sydney
Carolyn Wheeler, Churchwarden, St Michael’s
What year did the Wimbledon Palais close as a music and dance venue.
I can remember when they a “Beat Group” competition on Saturday nights, there was one group “Bluesology”, had a young piano player, which I late found out was Reg Dwight, now Elton John, another was “The Roosters” but I can’t be sure if they had Eric Clapton with them at that time, thats if it was the same group. The band that won the competition was the “Tridents” what happened to them?
Great venue , Hosted by the brilliant Mike Rabin band , The dance floor bounced, All listed groups seen , never got to see the Beatles , stand out groups Small Faces and the Who , loved the small faces , Energy Brill
I still have great memories of the early 60s. We were fortunate to play as the resident house band ( Mike Rabin and the Demons) from 1963 to 1966, when we left the Palais to perform on a Summer Show at the London Palladium, and later at the Royal Command show, with Gene Pitney. I also remember Ted Ledbury ( pretty sure that was his name) , a nice guy who fronted the Chantones and who shared the residency with us for a while. Sadly, the Wimbledon Palais closed down in 1967, but will always be remembered, by those who knew it, as the pioneering venue of the ‘Swinging Sixties’! Kind regards to all of you out there who may remember the ‘Demons’, and the Wimbledon Palais.
I used to frequent The Palais often between 1965 -67.
First saw The Who there. Me and my mate stood down the front open-mouthed as they began to smash up their equipment at the end of their gig.
We talked about that for weeks after, some good memories.
The Beatles held their Southern Fan Club shindig at The Palais in 1963 (I think). They had to put a cage around the bar where the Fabs signed autographs, as their fans pressed against the cage – there are pics of this. Lennon famously quipped “If they press any harder, they’ll come though as chips”. Weirdly, an Abbey Road is at the side of where the Palais was (now grotty flats, of course).
I was in a band called the In-Sekt Ltd. We supported main bands there at least twice if not more as part of the Radio Caroline nights. I remember it used to trailer our name when advertising the show(s) on air and it was a great thrill. Two bands I remember supporting were John’s Children and The Move. The Move chopped up a TV with an axe at the end of their set on the main stage. As I remember, the manager went nuts because the floor was badly damaged!