Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

The Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, southeast London was a popular live music venue during the 1960s. I’ve started to compile a list of artists that performed there and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as any memories of the pub. This is an incomplete listing

1964

12 April – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

17 May – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

31 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

 

21 June – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

5 July – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

 

23 August – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

 

12 September – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

18 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

29 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

 

6 December – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

1965

All of the listings below for 1965 are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

Peter Hicks, who was a member of The Down & Outs, has a newspaper clipping of his band in the scrapbook section of his website which notes that the band opened for The Animals, The Mark Leeman Five and The Moody Blues at this venue (most likely 1965).

3 January – The Graham Bond Organisation

10 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

17 January – Tony Knight’s Chessmen

24 January – The Downliners Sect

31 January – The Spencer Davis Group

 

7 February – The Moody Blues

14 February – The Animals

21 February – The Graham Bond Organisation with The Epitaph Soul Band (confirmed by article in Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

28 February – Buddy Guy with Rod Stewart and The Soul Agents (with Rod Stewart)

 

7 March – The Mark Leeman Five

14 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

21 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

28 March – The Downliners Sect

 

4 April – The Moody Blues

The Just Blues appeared on one occasion when The Moody Blues played here (see John Farrier’s comment below)

Photo: Jeff Brook-Smith’s family

11 April – Long John Baldry

18 April – Alex Harvey Soul Band

25 April – The Graham Bond Organisation

 

2 May – The Five Dimensions and The Loose Ends

9 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

16 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

23 May – Memphis Slim and Alex Harvey Soul Band

30 May – The Mark Leeman Five

 

6 June – Jack Dupree with The Mike Cotton Sound

13 June – The Graham Bond Organisation

20 June – The Artwoods

19 June – Jazz & Blues Festival with Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers, Epitaph Soul Band and The Loose Ends (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times, 25 June 1965, page 12
Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times, 25 June 1965, page 12

27 June – The Five Dimensions

 

4 July – Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart

11 July – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

18 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 July – The Spencer Davis Group and The Epitaphs Soul Band

The Epitaphs Soul Band featured Mick Fletcher on keyboards who went on to The New Generation (briefly Jimmy Cliff’s backing band), The Hamilton Movement (1966-1967) and The Amboy Dukes (1969-1970).

Earlier in their career, guitarist Del Grace was a member. He went on to The Big Wheel before joining Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Andy Clark also played sax with them in late 1965 before switching to organ and joining The Big Wheel in spring 1966. He later played with The Fenmen (aka Kindness), Sam Gopal, VAMP and Clark-Hutchinson among others.

 

1 August – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones

8 August – Alex Harvey Soul Band

15 August – The Graham Bond Organisation

22 August – The Blond Bombshell (from the US)

29 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

 

5 September – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

12 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

19 September – Steampacket

26 September – The Graham Bond Organisation

 

3 October – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

10 October – Alex Harvey Soul Band

17 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

24 October – The Spencer Davis Group

31 October – T-Bone Walker

 

7 November – Steampacket

14 November – The Graham Bond Organisation

21 November – The Shevelles

28 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

 

5 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

12 December – missing

19 December – missing

26 December – missing

1966

All of the listings below for 1966 are from South East London Mercury unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

2 January – missing

9 January – The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)

16 January – missing

23 January – missing

30 January – The Spencer Davis Group

 

6 February – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band

13 February – The Graham Bond Organisation

The Big Wheel Soul Band opened for Graham Bond’s group at some point

20 February – missing

27 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

 

6 March – The Action

13 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

20 March – Melody Maker notes “Great blues singer from the US” (could this be John Lee Hooker?)

27 March – Steampacket

 

3 April – missing

10 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 April – Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band

24 April – The Moody Blues

 

1 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

8 May – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

15 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

22 May – missing

29 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

 

5 June – The Downliners Sect

12 June – Steampacket

19 June – The Shotgun Express

26 June – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror)

 

3 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Eric Silk’s Stompers

10 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

24 July – The Alan Price Set (Fabulous 208 and Record Mirror)

30 July – The Graham Bond Organisation

 

7 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

14 August – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

21 August – The Shotgun Express

28 August – missing

 

4 September – The Moody Blues

11 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

18 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

 

2 October – The Shevelles

9 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

16 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

23 October – The Mike Cotton Sound

30 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

 

6 November – missing

13 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

20 November – The Downliners Sect

27 November – Guy Darrell

 

4 December – missing

11 December – Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

18 December – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

Fabulous 208 has Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band on 18 December

24 December – Mike Cotton Sound with support

1967

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz.

I have listed the sources next to the entries. There are indications from some of the dates below that rock gigs occasionally happened on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well.

1 January – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

8 January – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

15 January – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

22 January – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker)

29 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

 

5 February – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

12 February – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

19 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

26 February – Long John Baldry with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

 

5 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

12 March – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

14 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

19 March – Cliff Bennett’s Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

26 March – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

 

2 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

9 April – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

16 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

23 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

25 April – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

30 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

 

7 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)

14 May – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Melody Maker)

21 May – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

28 May – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

30 May – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

 

4 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diarySouth East London Mercury has The Coloured Raisins

11 June – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

2 July – The Coloured Raisins with Honey Darling and Earl Green (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 July – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 July – Mike Cotton with Lucas (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 July – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

6 August – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology) (Phil Mackie’s diary)

13 August – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

20 August – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

27 August – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

3 September – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 September – Freddie Mack Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

1 October – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

8 October – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 October – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

22 October – Ben E King (Phil Mackie’s diary)

29 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

4 November – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

7 November – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

12 November – Dantalion’s Chariot (Phil Mackie’s diary)

19 November – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

26 November – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

3 December – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 December – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 December – Peter’s Green Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 December – The Shevelles and Terry Lightfoot Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 December – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set and Alan Elsdon’s Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

1968

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz. I have listed the sources next to the entries.

7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

21 January – The Freddie Mack Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

4 February – The Cliff Bennett Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

11 February – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 February – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

3 March – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 March – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 March – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 March – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 March – The Impressions (Phil Mackie’s diary)

 

7 April – The Jeff Beck Group featuring Rod Stewart (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 April – The Piccadilly Six (Swiss band) (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

21 April – The Showstoppers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 April – The Cliff Bennett Band

 

5 May – Spooky Tooth (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 May – The Counts (Melody Maker – this was a Thursday)

12 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 May – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

19 May – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 May – The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

26 May – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

 

2 June – Lucas with The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 June – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 June – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers with The Satin Dolls (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 June – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

30 June – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

 

7 July – Diane Ferraz & The Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

14 July – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker)

21 July – Tony Gregory & The Counts (Melody Maker)

28 July – Traffic (Melody Maker)

 

4 August – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

11 August – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

18 August – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

25 August – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

 

1 September – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

8 September – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker)

15 September – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

22 September – Timebox (Melody Maker)

29 September – The Drifters (Melody Maker)

 

6 October – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

12 October – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker – this is a Saturday)

20 October – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

27 October – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

 

3 November – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

10 November – Inez and Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)

17 November – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

24 November – Ferris Wheel and Nepenthe (Melody Maker)

 

1 December – Garnet Mimms with Village Green (Melody Maker)

2 December – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

8 December – Bandwagon (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

10 December – Simon K & The Meantimers and Olaf Grumps Kneed (Melody Maker/South East London Mercury – this was a Tuesday)

15 December – Timebox (Melody Maker)

22 December – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

28 December – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1969

Judging by the gigs below, rock bands continued to play on Sundays with occasional gigs on other days of the week.

5 January – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

12 January – Root and Jenny Jackson (Melody Maker)

19 January – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

26 January – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

 

2 February – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

South East London Mercury has The Nice not Spooky Tooth

Photo: South East London Mercury

9 February – Happy Magazine (Melody Maker)

16 February – The Fantastics (Fabulous 208) 

Melody Maker has Timebox for the 16 February gig as does South East London Mercury

23 February – Freddie King and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)

Martin Coller got in touch and noted that The Nice were billed to play on 23 February according to Martyn Hanson’s book “Hang on To  Dream: The Story of The Nice”.

2 March – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

9 March – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker)

16 March – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

23 March – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

30 March – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

2 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker – this was a Wednesday)

6 April – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

13 April – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)

20 April – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 April – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

 

4 May – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

11 May – Toast (Melody Maker)

18 May – Howlin’ Wolf (Melody Maker)

25 May – The Riot Squad (Melody Maker)

 

1 June – No listing in Melody Maker

8 June – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

15 June – John Lee Hooker with The John Dummer Blues Band (Melody Maker)

22 June – Consortium (Melody Maker)

29 June – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

 

6 July – Timebox (Melody Maker)

13 July – The Platters (Melody Maker)

20 July – The Joyce Bond Show (Melody Maker)

27 July – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

 

3 August – The Brian Auger Trinity (Time Out)

10 August – Trapeze (Melody Maker)

17 August – The Globe Show (Melody Maker)

24 August – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

31 August – Timebox (Melody Maker)

 

7 September – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

14 September – The Cliff Bennett Show (Melody Maker)

21 September – Linda Lewis and Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

28 September – The Dave Amboy Big Band (Melody Maker)

 

5 October – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)

12 October – Zoot Money (Melody Maker)

19 October – The Greatest Show on Earth  (Melody Maker)

25 October – The Brian Auger Trinity (Melody Maker)

 

2 November – Marv Johnson (Melody Maker)

9 November – Timebox  (Melody Maker)

16 November – Freddie King  (Melody Maker)

23 November – No entry in Melody Maker

30 November – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

 

7 December – The Dave Amboy Band (aka The Amboy Dukes) (Melody Maker and Keith Guster’s diary)

According to Keith Guster, this was the reformed version featuring Keith Guster and Tago Byers from The Fleur De Lys and former Hamilton Movement keyboard player Mick Fletcher.

14 December – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

16 December – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

21 December – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

28 December – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)

1970

8 February – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

 

27 September – Black Widow and Amazing Grace (Poster from Roy Saxby)

Photo: Roy Saxby

4 October – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

11 October – Caravan (Poster from Roy Saxby)

18 October – Chicken Shack (Poster from Roy Saxby)

25 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Poster from Roy Saxby)

 

1 November – Blodwyn Pig (Poster from Roy Saxby)

Photo: Roy Saxby

6 December – The Faces featuring Rod Stewart with Daniels Band (Poster from Roy Saxby)

13 December – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

20 December – Toe Fat with Albuquerque-Riccoti (Poster from Roy Saxby)

24 December – The Greatest Show on Earth with Tony Simon’s Progressive Show (Poster from Roy Saxby)

27 December – Argent (Poster from Roy Saxby)

31 December – Patto (Poster from Roy Saxby)

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.

87 thoughts on “Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London”

  1. I loved playing this gig with the Downliners Sect. Both stages were great and the promoter was a really decent chap. When I saw that the old gig had disappeared I was very sad.

    Don Craine.

  2. January 1970 Bexley Black Prince-Trifle (11th), Trapeze (25th)
    May 1970 Bexley Black Prince- Toe Fat (17th)
    June 1970 Bexley Black Prince- Trapeze (7th)
    July 1970 Bexley, Black Prince-Status Quo, Bram Stoker (12th), Greatest Show On Earth (19th), Trapeze (26th)
    August 1970 Bexley Black Prince-Slade (23rd)
    Sept 1970 Bexley Black Prince-Faces (13th), Groundhogs (20th)
    Oct 1970 Bexley Black Prince- Steamhammer, UFO (4th), Caravan (11th)
    Nov 1970 Bexley Black Prince-Groundhogs (29th)
    Dec 1970 Bexley Black Prince-Steamhammer (13th), Greatest Show On Earth (24th), Argent (27th)

    From: http://www.marmalade-skies.co.uk/apr1970.htm44

    David F

    1. I was at all but the first two. You may remember me, I had long hair and an ex RAF greatcoat. I still have my membership cards for the Prince, Temple and Marquee. I lived in Blackfen road at the time then Bexley village later. Now S W France. Very happy days.

    2. I was at the Steamhammer gig on 13th December 1970 with my Icelandic girl friend (still good friends). We went because I liked their song Passing Though on the Fill Your Head With Rock sampler double album (which I still have) Happy memories

    1. Ron Mardle
      It certainly was MAJIC. I lived just up the road off Gravel Hill, a mere 10 minutes walk, what a local to have on your doorstep! I was lucky enough to get a job there in the mid 60’s, only for one long weekend as a ‘pot man’ when the pub hosted the South East Jazz and Blues Festival. I actually got paid fed and watered (beer) and watched some great bands. The venue developed and just got better and better. Julie Driscoll was my girlfriend, she didn’t actually know this of course. I remember seeing the Moody Blues with Denny Lane and also the Kinks. For a while I thought I saw the Small Faces there but quite recently an old mate put right and reminded me it was at the Austral in Sidcup we saw them. I watched John Mayalls Bluesbreakers A LOT! Which led on to seeing some of my favourite rock bands. I also really enjoyed Thursdays -great music. Anyhow I’m rambling a bit now but what memories.
      Rock ON Ron

      1. Just want to add best two times there, first – John Lee Hooker backed by the Ground Hogs who became my favorite band. Second – Roxey Music – very special.

  3. I seem to remember the first band to play there was Jimmy Powell & the 5 Dimension with Rod Stewart doing of few vocals

  4. The Moody Blues Also Backed Sonny Boy Williamson as well
    Other Bands
    Derek & The Dominos
    The Mike Cotton Sound
    The Petty Things

    1. yes I remember the Moody Blues being resident there most Sunday nights late 64 and throughout 65 and even later I think. Can remember first time I heard this great R&B band at the Black prince and wondering who they were…and as we were leaving they sang Go Now…we stayed and listened and realised who they were as the record had just been released. Following in 1965 asked them if they played any James Brown and they said no, but did lots of Ray Charles songs….. later April 67 l had my wedding reception there. Black prince has many sweet memories for me.

    2. MY BLUES BAND – JUST BLUES – PLAYED ON THE NIGHTS THAT THE MOODY BLUES BACKED SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON IN THE INTERVALS. I PLAYED EVANS SHUFFLE WITH SONNY BOY THAT NIGHT. ITS WAS BRILLIANT. JUST BLUES PLAYED THE BLACK PRINCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE BAND NAMES WERE – JOHN STEWART FARRIER (HARP -SINGER) JIM MOORES LEAD GUITAR ( JIM PLAYED WITH ALEXES KORNER) JEFF BROOKSMITH -DRUMMER AND JOHN ADAMS – BASS PLAYER.
      WONDERFUL MEMORIES AND BECAME FRIENDS WITH DENNY LAINE AND STILL PLAY THE HARP AND GUITAR.

      1. I remember your band very well.. going for auditions at Finsbury Park Astoria.. What ever happened to Jeff Brooksmith? i recall he lived in Barnhurst.. also Jim Moores .. I recall him telling me how he played with Alexis Korner.. Is your band still working?

        1. Jeff Brook-Smith, our late father (June 2018), worked at a printers, then went on to art school. He was a commercial artist in London before relocating to Scarborough in North Yorkshire. He played in a number of local bands there as a percussionist which was great to watch (and became a fire fighter). My brothers and I would love to see any photographs or film of the band.

      2. Hi there

        Think Jeff Brooksmith might have later joined a band that became Sketto Rich & Sonority. See the comments for that entry on this site

  5. I saw John Lee Hooker, Freddie King & Traffic (& the girl who sang “Rescue Me”. Have no record of the dates, but a great venue

  6. Used to go there early 70’s – it was run by the dad of a kid at my school – Dave Fletcher, I think. Seem to recall Quo was more or less resident band, but preferred Stray even if they were a bit heavy on the strobes. One night, midweek I think, we queued up outside with what we later discovered was the band. My mate had just bought a pair of bright green 4″ stack shoes, but was upstaged by this guy in front with 6″ ruby red stacks – turned out it was Andy Mackay – one of Roxy Music’s first gigs before Virginia Plain. Awesome.

    1. Early 70’s for me and I seem to remember that the promoter had a record shop in Lewisham. Stray, Roxy Music, Groundhogs, Genesis, Argent, the list goes on but my memory doesn’t. Lanny.

      1. I sign out and then Arthur Browns Kingdom Come, Blackfoot Sue, Wishbone Ash, Focus, Pink Fairies, Rory Gallagher, Uriah Heep (?) and Atomic Rooster (?) are magically recalled. Lanny.

      2. Although I saw many groups over the years from the beer garden before it was burned down, you mention Stray I loved Stray “All in your mind” with the strobe, also working there for many years I had free access every Sunday night would you believe the most damage caused was the night Slade played!

      1. I used to work the door at Black Prince. Yes that’s correct it was run by Len & Kath Fletcher.
        Great venue and great memories.

    2. Good days Sam. I thought Status Quo only played at the ‘Prince’ once but I, may be wrong, it was absolutely jam packed. Stray were the first really heavy
      -L O U D- rock band I saw, bought their first album and still have it.
      I would love to see old film of any gigs there.

  7. I used to watch Graham Bond in April 1964 – driving up from school in Rochester. Amazing sound and some fearsome punch-ups when the lights went out and the bouncers were set upon.
    Booked Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band for a Reading University gig around ’66. Nobody could keep still. We also had Cream when they first formed, then couldn’t afford them after their first hit, ‘Wrapping Paper’ (I think)

  8. Was there in 63/64/65 (?)and saw Long John Baldry and His Hoochy Coochy Men. On piano was a young Reg Dwight, with guest vocals from ‘Rod the Mod’. Wish I could remember more detail!

  9. Lived only 5 minutes walk away and started going when they had Modern Jazz on a Sunday night then changed over to R & B with bands such as
    Alex Harvey, Graham Bond , Steampacket (Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll, Rod Stewart & Long John Baldry), John Mayall Bluesbreakers, The Downliners Sect, Alexis Korner, Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band, The Animals plus many more

    1. I remember the blues nights on Sundays, Must have been 1965 -66 Steampacket with Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton with John Mayall, Stevie Windwood with The Spencer Davis group, also seem to remember Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce but not sure what bands they were with. Also as mentioned above Zoot Money, Graham Bond Organisation. Small venue, I think then it was 2/6 to go in. Brilliant times, the music fantastic. The last time i saw Eric Clapton was in Hyde Park, think I paid 60 pounds

  10. I saw Lindisfarne on the 13 Feb 1972 ,I know because I took my girlfriend there on our third date we have now been married for 44 years .The Black Prince was a fantastic music venue in the late sixties and early seventies great memories.

  11. I attended these:
    18 May 1969 Howlin’ Wolf + John Dummer Blues Band
    (Wolf used just one harmonica throughout so every song was in the same key. Going by the position of the guitarists’ fingers, the key was E flat)
    1 June 1969 Freddie King + Killing Floor
    (There is an audio recording of ‘I loved the woman’ from this set on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9yXfKuWSdU )
    15 June 1969 John Lee Hooker + John Dummer Blues Band
    (A member of the audience repeatedly called for ‘Boogie Chillun’. Hooker eventually responded with ‘I heard ya’ but didn’t play it)
    16 November 1969 Freddie King + Killing Floor
    16 August 1970 Derek and the Dominos
    (Not surprisingly, this one was sold out)
    I saw Bacon Fat with George Smith in the early 1970s. According to https://www.discogs.com/George-Smith-4-Bacon-Fat-The-Complete-Blue-Horizon-Sessions/release/5407282 which includes live material, it must have been 22 November 1970.

  12. In the mid 1960s I was a schoolboy with little disposable income and too young to pass for 18. But the black-on-pink posters advertising ‘Bexley Jazz Club’ were a familiar site giving a tantalising glimpse of a world beyond my grasp. Ever the compulsive chronicler, I made a note of the acts appearing for a period during 1967-1968. The posters advertised the Sunday and Monday shows. As noted by others, Sunday was R&B night. Mondays were mainstream jazz, but I only kept a note of the Sunday shows, plus some occasional Thursday gigs. This is what I have. Apologies if it duplicates anything already listed but it’s easier to copy and paste the whole thing. I have no record for any blank entries
    Sunday, 4 June 1967 John Mayall
    Sunday, 11 June 1967 Amboy Dukes
    Sunday, 18 June 1967 Zoot Money
    Sunday, 25 June 1967 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
    Sunday, 2 July 1967 The Coloured Raisins Show with Honey Darling & Earl Green
    Sunday, 9 July 1967 John Mayall
    Sunday, 16 July 1967 The Gass
    Sunday, 23 July 1967 Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound
    Sunday, 30 July 1967 Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll
    Sunday, 6 August 1967 The Long John Baldry Show
    Sunday, 13 August 1967 The Shevelles
    Sunday, 20 August 1967 The Peddlers
    Sunday, 27 August 1967 The Gass
    Sunday, 3 September 1967 Amboy Dukes
    Sunday, 10 September 1967 John Mayall
    Sunday, 17 September 1967 Chris Farlowe
    Sunday, 24 September 1967 The Freddy Mack Show
    Sunday, 1 October 1967 The Shevelles
    Sunday, 8 October 1967 Amboy Dukes
    Sunday, 15 October 1967 Ronnie Jones and the ‘Q’ Set
    Sunday, 22 October 1967 Ben E. King
    Sunday, 29 October 1967 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
    Sunday, 5 November 1967 The Peddlers
    Sunday, 12 November 1967 Dantalion’s Chariot featuring Zoot Money
    Sunday, 19 November 1967 John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
    Sunday, 26 November 1967 Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll
    Sunday, 3 December 1967 Amboy Dukes
    Sunday, 10 December 1967 The Gass
    Sunday, 17 December 1967 Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac
    Sunday, 24 December 1967 The Shevelles & The Terry Lightfoot Band
    Sunday, 31 December 1967 Ronnie Jones & Alan Elsdon’s Band
    Sunday, 7 January 1968 John Mayall
    Sunday, 14 January 1968 Ronnie Jones
    Sunday, 21 January 1968 The Freddy Mack Show
    Sunday, 28 January 1968 The Jinny McGriff Quartet
    Sunday, 4 February 1968 The Cliff Bennett Show
    Sunday, 11 February 1968 The Savoy Brown Blues Band
    Sunday, 18 February 1968 John Mayall
    Sunday, 25 February 1968 Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound
    Sunday, 3 March 1968 The Peddlers
    Sunday, 10 March 1968 Amboy Dukes
    Sunday, 17 March 1968 Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac
    Sunday, 24 March 1968 The Shevelles
    Sunday, 31 March 1968 The Impressions
    Sunday, 7 April 1968 Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart
    Sunday, 14 April 1968 John Mayall
    Sunday, 21 April 1968 Showstoppers
    Sunday, 28 April 1968
    Sunday, 5 May 1968 Spooky Tooth
    Sunday, 12 May 1968 The Shevelles
    Thursday, 16 May 1968 Geno Washington
    Sunday, 19 May 1968 Herbie Goins
    Thursday, 23 May 1968 The Rebel Rousers
    Sunday, 26 May 1968 The Peddlers
    Thursday, 30 May 1968 The Shevelles
    Sunday, 2 June 1968 Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound
    Sunday, 9 June 1968 Julie Driscoll
    Sunday, 16 June 1968 Herbie Goins & The Night Timers, Satin Dolls
    Sunday, 23 June 1968
    Sunday, 30 June 1968
    Sunday, 7 July 1968 Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

    1. Thanks Phil … I now know when I saw the Jeff Beck Group with Mr Stewart crouching behind the amps when there was an instrumental 😉

      1. There were big posters by the off license which is now a vet by the shell garage along sherwood park avenue

    2. I distinctly remember Ike and Tina Turner playing thge Black Prince, most probably 1966. Have yet to find anyone else with this memory!

  13. well, maybe I was in the only crowd of one but I am convinced I saw Inez and Charlie Foxx there. A
    lso the Showstoppers (“Ain’t Nothin’ But a House Party”, and not forgetting the third ‘Burke ‘ to appear at the Black Prince (two of his brothers were in the Showstoppers)…the one and only Solomon Burke headlining the Bexley Jazz festival? Wow!

    1. Yes you did! I seem to remember queuing to get in, in the snow, clad in some very skimpy ‘60’s 🤣
      Used to drive up from Chatham whenever funds allowed. Saw some class acts.

  14. Hello,
    I’m looking for some more information on the mid to late 70s if anyone has any knowledge of the bands who played then. My mum used to go there when she was young.
    Thanks

    1. Hi lived 10 min. walk away, started going when it was trad jazz then modern jazz. The best was when they stared the british R&B sessions, saw lots of bands from Graham Bond, Alex Harvey, Alexis Korner, Alex Harvey, Sugar Pie Desanto (American), The Steampacket, The Animals and many more.

    2. Yeh so did I …..I use to walk down the motorway to get there….does anyone remember Status Quo playing and their amp blew a fuse and me and my brother ended up buying them a pint in the bar????? Sye Everett

  15. I lived about 10 mins walk away but my dad insisted on driving me there the one and only night I went. Think my older (male) cousin asked me to go. Poor dad ended up walking me across the main road due to very severe flooding and to this day I can’t remember who I saw! And no recollection of how I got home either! It must have been about 1967/8 though. Happy days 😊

    1. I lived about 10 minutes walk from the Black Prince and started going when it was only Jazz, then it changed to the new British R & B. Here is a list (from what I remember):
      Alexis Korner
      Alex Harvey Soul Band
      John Mayall Blues Breakers
      Graham Bond Organisation
      Downliers Sect
      Zoot Money
      Sugar Pie Desanto
      The Animals
      Thin Lizzy
      Steampacket
      Cream

  16. I was 18 in 1966 and feel so lucky to have had the Black Prince virtually on my doorstep. I grew up in sidcup just down the road. Most of my best friends were a little older than me and had been to sidcup art school, I got an art job straight from school, you could do that in those days, get a job. The stones were getting big by then and my mates would talk about Keef , which was very cool. Phil May and Dick Taylor, also sidcup art students had formed The Pretty Things and I followed them to gigs in the area. Sunday nights at the Prince were always fantastic. John mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mack, Graham Bond Organisation with jack Bruce and Ginger Bake , Brian Auger’s Trinity and Steampacket were almost house bands. I still can’t quite believe that my teenage self could walk a couple of miles from home and see Champion Jack Dupree or John Lee Hooker. Blimey! I now live in the Old Town of Hastings, go to local pubs, of which there are many and listen to fantastic live music . Doesn’t even cost 2/6 on the door!
    Really good to see a comment above from Don Craine. A Downliners Sect gig was almost as anarchic as the Pretty Things.
    So glad you’ve set up this site. Thank you.I can now have my nostalgia guilt free!

    1. …I omitted to include dick heckstall-smith(graham bond), zoot money’s big roll band, Chris farlowe and the thunderbirds, all regulars.. and screaming lord sutch and the (underrated) undertakers.

      1. Yeh Dick Heckstall Smith the guy who often played either 2 saxophones or a saxophone and a clarinet at the same time.

  17. Saw many groups there in the period 64 – 67.
    My favourites were :
    The Alex Harvey Soul Band
    Spooky Tooth
    Graham Bond Organisation
    Cliff Bennet & The Rebel Rousers
    Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
    If I remember correctly it was about 50p to get in with anything up to a £1 to see groups such as Derek & The Dominos .
    Happy days Chris Smith

  18. As an afterthought another group that doesn’t get a mention we’re the Cheynes.
    Also,I think a local group,Tombstone Epitaph with a John Porter on bass,played in the interval of some performances

    1. My mate was member no. 2. I was member no.3.
      The Cheynes went on the Stones first UK tour. Bill Whyman wrote some tunes for them.
      Drummer was Mick Fleetwood, keyboards Peter Bardens vocals Trevor Peacock. So young and so good. Guitar was Phil Sawyer who had the first electric blue strat. Played in several bands, ending up in Fluer De Lyys then went to college and learnt proper music. First innovative guitar player.
      They appeared at Black Prince several times.
      Artwoods was Ronnies older brother. Probably better than Ronnie. Had a 15 watt amp turned up to 11 for distortion.
      Rod Stewart’s first gig was a slot with Long John. Who was this little mod!

  19. I am convinced that I saw Ike and Tina Turner at the Prince, mid sixties. But have never found anyone who shares my memory.

  20. I used to go to the Black Prince every Thursday from 69 till 72. When a rock DJ called Tony Simon hosted a kind of rock disco. Fantastic venue and memories. On Sundays there would be various bands. I remember seeing Groundhogs, Uriah Heep and the Faces.

  21. I vividly remember a Georgie Fame and the Blueflames gig mid 60s coz the drummer turned up late and got a right bollocking from GF! Also a band called The Sheffields on another gig and again the great T-Bone Walker

  22. Saw Joe Cocker sing the old favourite! Amazing and loud!! Stood about 2 feet away !!! Thin Lizzy – Whiskey in the jar!! Phil Lynott! Saw loads there! Late 60’s??? Unbelievable!!!

  23. Inez Foxx did play The Black Prince but Charlie wasn’t with her. She said something about him having to fly home because of a family emergency. Sorry, but I can remember nothing else… not even what year it was!

  24. Loved reading all of this ..
    I was there , living in Old Bexley village and could walk there…I went to gigs there from 1967-1971.. fantastic … I remember the bill posters being posted up with paste on the wall in Bexley village near the Shell garage…

  25. I used to go twice a week if I could afford it, in the early 70’s when I lived in Welling. I used to get a late bus home Thursday nights, then back to school the following morning. Two bands I particularly remember were Argent, because Russ Ballard fell over my foot on his way in (no damage done) and Stackridge, a very unusual band for the time to say the least!

  26. Does anyone remember Little Walter backed by a rubbish band called The Sheffield’s. Little Walter was great as we’re many visiting blues players who performed at The Black Prince in the mid-sixties

    1. I have a cassette tape of Little Walter live with The Sheffields Sep 20, 1964 at Black Prince hotel Bexely England (from the collection of the late Tony Glover) If interested, please email me Bill Brown wgbwgb@hotmail.com Thank you

    2. I should have also mentioned Tony had 5 bootleg cassettes of Sugar Blue live at the Minneapolis Minnesota USA blues bar Wilebskis Blues Saloon, 7 shows in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and a show in 1991 where Tony Glover played with Sugar Blue. If interested, let me know Bill Brown wgbwgb@hotmail.com Thank you.

  27. I used to go there every Thursday from 69-71 for the rock disco. Hosted by Tony Simon’s. Also Sundays for the bands. Saw the groundhogs, uriah heep and trapeze to name a few. I think also the faces. Fantastic venue, especially as I lived opposite hall place in Bourne rd.

  28. My first attendance at Black Prince on a Sunday The Peddlars,(bass guitar played upright)Then Graham Bond about 1968.Then later years Wild Turkey(Glen Cornick) and Supertramp,Stone the Crows(Maggie Bell and Steve Thompson) IF (Terry Smith/Dick Morrisey) -Medicine Head–Jude(Clive Bunker)–

  29. My mate Pat Sadler was an obsessive Supertramp fan, when they played the Prince he was practically hanging on the front of the stage, later got to be a roadie with the band – dreams can come true! Best gigs – Rory Gallagher, Roxy Music. Worst? MC5 playing to an almost empty room, my mate John Walker being the only fan, standing in front drooling over ‘Kick out the jams’. Oh yeah and Stackridge – ‘Purple Spaceships over Yatton’, that was a good night.

  30. Some memories here. Lived in Bexleyheath and was a Prince regular between 1970 (whem l could just about pass for 18) until 1976.

    So many bands, Chickenshack, Stone the Crows, Hackensack, Screaming Lord Sutch, Groundhogs, Mick Abrahams Band, Pretty Things, Pink Fairies, Van der Graaf Generator, The MC5.

    Happy Days

  31. I used to go there every Sunday with my old pals Mick Aldane , Kenny Deal and Phil Classie. (Sadly both Kenny and Phil havepassed away ) , the Girls we used to go with also were Sue and Hillary and Jean Whybrow , Best Groups were Pretty Things , John Mayle , Graham Bond with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce , Spencer Davies Chris Farlow and the Thunderbirds , The Animals ( 1964 ) , Best local Groups who used to support the Big groups were the Loose Ends and the Epithaps with Mick Fletcher , all the Local groups including The Fenmen and Vamp ( with Viv Prince and Andy Clark ) used to meet at Music Land Shop ( Ran by Dave Kilvington ) in Bexleyheath
    ,

  32. I saw John Mayall Bluesbreakers mid 1966. I (and most of the crowd)were expecting to see Eric Clapton play but a young kid called Peter Green RIP was introduced by JM as his replacement. (Nothing new nobody seemed to last long with JM.)
    Looking Back single had just been released which might help with the date of the gig.

  33. 65-66-67 regular at the Sunday Black Prince. The bands we saw were just kids enjoying themselves now they are superstars. Saw all the bands on the web site also Crayford Town Hall on a Tuesday or Wednesday was a great please.

  34. Hi Nick , I saw Little Walter
    At the Black Prince about mid Sixties
    Any idea what Month & Year
    Many Thanks.
    Martin M Mariner

  35. I saw Fabulous Poodles there around the mid 70s.
    Quite theatrical with Bobby Valentino fronting.
    Does anyone remember Burlesque playing there?
    Ian Trimmer, the sax player lived nearby. I bought his Mini, haha

  36. Dear All, Seems also English rock band FREE (internationally famous for their hit “All Right Now” of 1970) played in Bexley – Black Prince Pub in early days of their career (between April 1968 and December 1969 I suppose). Anyone of you has memories of this gig ? Thanks

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