The Dae-b-Four

The Dae-b-Four, spring 1965, from left to right: Iain Pitwell, Rex Brayley, Bobby Dean, Brian Brayley and Roger Sidey
The Dae-b-Four, spring 1965, from left to right: Iain Pitwell, Rex Brayley, Bobby Dean, Brian Brayley and Roger Sidey
The Dae-b-Four, live, early 1966. From left to right: Rex Brayley, Iain Pitwell and Brian Brayley
The Dae-b-Four, live, early 1966. From left to right: Rex Brayley, Iain Pitwell and Brian Brayley

Ad for Dae B-Four, Bluesolegy at Elms Club
Rex Brayley – lead guitar/vocals

Brian Brayley – rhythm guitar

Roger Sidey – bass

Kenny Slade – drums

Jimmy Trimmer – lead vocals

Bob Carpenter – drums

Bobby Dean – drums

Iain Pitwell – lead vocals

Malcolm Randall – drums

John Kerrison – drums

Brothers Rex and Brian Brayley had first come to prominence with Tony Liddle & the Lads, a Hounslow band formed in 1962. The band also comprised singer Tony Liddle, bass player Roger Sidey and drummer Yan Kuttlevasher.

In mid-1964, Sheffield drummer Kenny Slade replaced Kuttlevasher after playing with Dave Berry & The Cruisers. When Tony Liddle left soon after, the group became The Dae-b-Four.

Not long after the name change, the musicians were joined by new lead singer Jimmy Trimmer. Then in early 1965, Bob Carpenter took over from Kenny Slade on drums. Slade joined The Sheffields and later worked with Joe Cocker.

Carpenter didn’t stay very long, however, and Bobby Dean from rival Hounslow band, The Stringbeats took over that spring. Dean introduced his friend, singer Iain Pitwell, who took over from Jimmy Trimmer when he departed.

However, Dean left in August 1965 to work with another local group, The Valkeries. Malcolm Randall from Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men took his place briefly. The line-up remained steady until November 1965 when John Kerrison came in on drums after playing in Germany with The Horizons. Kerrison had previously been a member of Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Rocking Eccentrics.

Malcolm Randall later reunited with Pitwell in The All Night Workers in October 1967 after working as a freelance drummer and The Missing Links in the interim.

The new line up lasted until about August 1966 when Kerrison departed and subsequently joined Mick Liddell & Gli Atomi in Rome, Italy. The band recorded the track “La Mia Inghilterra”, after which Kerrison returned to the UK. By February 1967, Kerrison had linked up with Johnny Kidd’s former band, The Pirates. He then played with Episode Six and The Beachcombers. The Dae-b-Four carried on with another drummer.

In March 1967, Rex Brayley struck gold when he joined The Love Affair.

Iain Pitwell meanwhile reunited with Malcolm Randall in The All Night Workers in October 1967.

Notable gigs:

30 March 1965 – Elms Club, South Harrow, Middlesex with Distortion

20 April 1965 – Elms Club, South Harrow, Middlesex with Bluesology (featuring future Elton John on piano)

 

2 July 1965 – London Cavern, Holland Park, west London with The Initial Four (Kensington Post)

6 July 1965 1965 – London Cavern, Holland Park, west London with The Tribe (Kensington Post)

24 August 1965 – Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, west London

Many thanks to Rex Brayley for the photos and input. Thanks also to Iain Pitwell, John Kerrison and Malcolm Randall. Thanks to Don Hughes too for his help in piecing the story together.

Dae-B-four articleCopyright © 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.

Don Hughes is selling a three-track picture sleeve single, with three previously unreleased tracks. For more information, email: donhughes345@btinternet.com

Kenny Slade lineup, 1964. From left to right: Rex Brayley, Roger Sidey, Kenny Slade and Brian Brayley
Kenny Slade lineup, 1964. From left to right: Rex Brayley, Roger Sidey, Kenny Slade and Brian Brayley
Newspaper clipping, 1 October 1965
Gig, 25 September 1965

11 thoughts on “The Dae-b-Four”

  1. Being a West London lad who subsequently lived in South Harrow for around 25 years, interested to know if other than ‘La Mia Inghilterra’ any recordings exist by Dae-B-Four

  2. According to the Sheffield Star Kenny Slade led his own group, Slades All Stars with organist Paul Bailey at the Penny Farthing Club during summer of 1967 and Joe Cocker often sat in

  3. According to Evening Start (Ipswich) the Dae-b-Four played at Club de Danse, Colchester on 12 March 1966. Advert to be added soon

  4. According to the Staines and Egham News, The Dae-b-Four played at Egham Hythe Social Centre on 25 September 1965. They also played at Egham Youth Centre on 18 September 1965. The same paper has an article on a competition that they took part in its 1 October 1965 issue, page 10

  5. Few missing gigs

    7 August 1965 – Pontiac Club, Putney, London with The Byrds and Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Don Hughes’ The Bigger Picture book/Melody Maker)

    17 February 1967 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, London with The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Don Hughes’ The Bigger Picture book/Melody Maker)

    4 March 1967 – Hounslow West Youth Club, Hounslow, London (Don Hughes’ The Bigger Picture book)

    Don Hughes says they also supported Bluesology with Long John Baldry at the Ealing Club (most likely January 1967) and also headlined at the Goldhawk Social Club in Shepherd’s Bush.

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