Located on Allendale Road in Greenford (sometimes billed as Sudbury or Wembley) in northwest London, the Starlite Ballroom was a significant music venue in the UK during the early-to-late 1960s. Peter Griffin booked artists for the venue, together with the Starlight Ballroom in Crawley, West Sussex.
I have started to list gigs for the years 1964-1965 but these are incomplete and I would welcome any additions and corrections. I’d also welcome any photos and concert adverts, which will be credited accordingly.
1964
25 September (Friday) – The Paramounts and Alexis Korner’s Blues Inc (Harrow Observer & Gazette) Grand opening
26 September (Saturday) – Sounds Incorporated (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
3 October (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides with The Rustics (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 October (Saturday) – The Merseybeats and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 October (Sunday) – The Mojos (Beat Instrumental) Needs confirmation
7 November (Saturday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 November (Saturday) – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 November (Wednesday) – The Applejacks (Beat Instrumental) Needs confirmation
27 November (Friday) – The Mojos (Beat Instrumental)
28 November (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
29 November (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens (Beat Instrumental) Needs confirmation
12 December (Saturday) – Linda Laine & The Sinners and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 December (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1965
17 January (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 January (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides and Cergano & The Cavaliers (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
30 January (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides and JJ & The Challengers (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 February (Saturday) – Buddy Britten & The Regents and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 February (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
27 February (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides with Unit 5 (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 March (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides and JJ & The Challengers (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
20 March (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides and James Tamyln (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
21 March (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 April (Friday) – The Barron Knights and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 April (Saturday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 April (Friday) – Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 April (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides and The Beachcombers (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 April (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)
14 May (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides and Sonny Childe & The Elders (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 May (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 May (Saturday) – The All-Nite Workers and The Hysters (Don Martin’s diary)
28 May (Friday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Photo: Jeff Sturgeon. Jean & The Statesides, 1965. Left to right: Bill Stemp, Ian Walker, Dave Brogden, Jean Hayles, Jeff Sturgeon, Mick Bloomfield and Dave Hovington
4 June (Friday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
5 June (Saturday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 June (Friday) – Peter & Gordon and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
19 June (Saturday) – Jimmy Royal & The Hawks and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 June (Saturday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Singer Jean Hayles left before this gig and they gigged as The Statesides. The band’s line-up comprised Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bill Stemp (keyboards/sax), Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar), Dave Brogden (sax), Mick Bloomfield (bass) and Ian Walker (drums)
27 June (Sunday) – The Who and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 July (Sunday) – The Yardbirds (Beat Instrumental)
18 July (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens (Beat Instrumental)
24 July (Saturday) – Heinz and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
25 July (Sunday) – The Moody Blues (Beat Instrumental)
31 July (Saturday) – The Pentad and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 August (Sunday) – The Birds and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
15 August (Sunday) – Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers and The Statesides (Dave Brodgen’s gig diary/Don Martin’s diary)
20 August (Friday) – The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
27 August (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
10 September (Friday) – The Birds and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
12 September (Sunday) – The Pretty Things and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary) Beat Instrumental lists The Walker Brothers on this date
26 September (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
1 October (Friday) – The Hollies (Beat Instrumental)
15 October (Friday) – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Beat Instrumental)
17 October (Sunday) – The Sorrows (Record Mirror)
24 October (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)
30 October (Saturday) – The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
31 October (Sunday) – The Kinks and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary) Beat Instrumental lists The Downliners Sec to this date
6 November (Saturday) – The Bo Street Runners and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
7 November (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)
20 November (Saturday) – Hedgehoppers Anonymous and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
28 November (Sunday) – Rob Storme & The Whispers and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 December (Friday) – The Animals (Beat Instrumental)
10 December (Friday) – Ketty Lester and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 December (Saturday) – Rob Storme & The Whispers and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary and Dave Brodgen’s gig diary)
31 December (Friday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Beat Instrumental)
Many thanks to Rolf Hannet for helping with some Beat Instrumental gigs
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)
Photo: Terry Stamp
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)
The UK’s featured in Boyfriend magazine, 5 September 1964
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)
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 (Balham and Tooting News and Mercury)
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
23 October – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
24 October – The Blue Saints (Clapham Advertiser)
28 October – The Heebie Jeebies (Clapham Advertiser)
30 October – The Scorpions (Clapham Advertiser)
4 November – Satellite One (Clapham Advertiser)
Photo: Michael Pierce
9 November – The Mojos and Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans (Streatham News, Clapham News and Michael Pierce’s clippings)
13-14 November – The Mad Hatters (Clapham Advertiser)
18 November – The Condors (Clapham Advertiser)
20-21 November – The Peddlers (Clapham Advertiser)
25 November – The Objects (Clapham Advertiser)
27-28 November – The Others (Streatham News and Clapham News)
2 December – Danny & The Torinos (Clapham Advertiser)
4-5 December – The Fabulous Solitairs (Clapham Advertiser)
9 December – John L Watson & The Hummelfugs (Clapham Advertiser)
11-12 December – The Magic Moments (Clapham Advertiser)
16 December – The Nature’s Boys (Clapham Advertiser)
18 December – Johnny Wells & The Voodoos (Clapham Advertiser)
19 December – Kris Ryan & The Questions (Clapham Advertiser)
24 December – Dave Curtiss & The Tremors (Clapham Advertiser)
26 December – The Mark Four (Streatham News)
1965
Judging by the gigs below for this year, rock artists played every Wednesday night. It also looks like (in most cases) another rock artist performed on both the Friday and Saturday nights later in the same week. Major stars were booked for Monday nights.
1-2 January – The League of Gentlemen (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
6 January – The Drovers (Streatham News)
8-9 January – The Juniors (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
13 January – The Solitairs (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
15-16 January – The Roosters (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
18 January – The Fourmost and Julie Grant (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
20 January – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
22-23 January – The Sassenachs (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
27 January – missing entry
29-30 January – Hamilton & His Blues Messengers (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
3 February – The Types (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
5-6 February – Clouds (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
10 February – The Soundtrekkers (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
12-13 February – The Skorpions (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
17 February – The Four Zodiacs (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
19-20 February – Christian’s Crusaders (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
24 February – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
26-27 February – The Puppets (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
1 March – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Monday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser and Melody Maker)
3 March – The Forerunners (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
5 March – G L Watson & The Hummelfugs (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
6 March – The Silver Dollars (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
10 March – The Universal Showband (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
12-13 March – Brian Diamond & The Cutters (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
17 March – The Universal Showband (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
19-20 March – The Primitives (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
24 March – The Universal Showband (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
26-27 March – The Rockin’ Eccentrics (Streatham News)
29 March – The Ivy League (Monday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser and Melody Maker)
31 March – The Universal Showband (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
Photo: Michael Pierce
2-3 April – The Downtown Seekers (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
7 April – Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
9-10 April – The Essex Showband (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
14 April – Herman’s Hermits (Streatham News and Melody Maker)
16 April – missing entry
17 April – The Solitaires (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
21 April – Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
23-24 April – Keith Conway & The Aristokats (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
28 April – The Vikings (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
30 April – Brian Diamond & The Cutters (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
1 May – Brian Diamond & The Cutters (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
3 May – Manfred Mann (Greg Russo’s Manfred Mann research)
5 May – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
Streatham News lists The Moody Blues on 5 May
7-8 May – Jeff Curtis & The Flames (Streatham News and Ray Brown’s diary)
12 May – The Soundtrekkers (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
14-15 May – The Factotums (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
19 May – The Rockin’ Chairs (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
21-22 May – Plain & Fancy, The Five & Fancy, Five To One (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
26 May – Warren & The Walkers (this is probably Warren Davis & The Board Walkers) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
28-29 May – The Fairlanes with Linda Lou (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
2 June – Danny & The Torinos (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
4-5 June – The Woodlanders (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
9 June – missing entry
11-12 June – The Conchords (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
The Conchords featured Ray Dorset who later found fame with Mungo Jerry.
14 June – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Monday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
16 June – missing entry
18-19 June – The Buckinghams (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
23 June – missing entry
Jaymes Venda & The Vulcans on the venue’s stage, 1965. Thanks to Alf Fripp for providing the image. Left to right: Colin Delaney, John Ford, Alf Fripp, Keith Preston and Jaymes Venda (real name Michael Pierce).
25-26 June – Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
30 June – missing entry
2-3 July – The Factotums (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
7 July – missing entry
9-10 July – Fernando & The Hideaways (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
14 July – missing entry
16-17 July – The Mirage (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
21 July – missing entry
23-24 July – The Plain & Fancy (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
28 July – missing entry
30-31 July – The Sovereigns (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
4 August – missing entry
6-7 August – missing entry
11 August – missing entry
13-14 August – The Druids (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
18 August – missing entry
20 August – The Big Bossmen (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
The Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser has Dave Berry & The Cruisers on 20 August
21 August – The Big Bossmen (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
25 August – missing entry
27-28 August – The Boston Crabs (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
1 September – missing entry
3-4 September – The Thee (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
8 September – missing entry
10 September – The Cops ‘N’ Robbers (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
11 September – The Hysterics (replaced The Cops ‘N’ Robbers) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
15 September – missing entry
17-18 September – Johnny Gustavson (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
20 September – Dave Berry & The Cruisers (Monday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser and Melody Maker)
22 September – missing entry
24-25 September – The Plain & Fancy (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
29 September – missing entry
1-2 October – The Board Walkers (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
6 October – missing entry
8-9 October – The Factotums (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
11 October – The Fortunes (Monday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
13 October – missing entry
15 October – Giorgio & Marco’s Men (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
16 October – missing entry
20 October – missing entry
22 October – Jaymes & The Vulcans (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
23 October – missing entry
27 October – missing entry
29-30 October – The Plain & Fancy (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
3 November – missing entry
5-6 November – The Hideaways (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
10 November – missing entry
12-13 November – Country folk (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
15 November – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Monday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser and Melody Maker)
17 November – missing entry
19 November – Platform Six (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
20 November – The Summer Set (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
24 November – missing entry
26-27 November – missing entry
1 December – missing entry
3-4 December – David Bowie & The Lower Third (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
8 December – The New Jump Band (Bob Hodges’ diary)
17 December – The Powerhouse Six (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
18 December – The Insect (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
22 December – missing entry
24 December – James Venda & The Vulcans (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
26 December – James Venda & The Vulcans (Sunday night) (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
29 December – missing entry
31 December – The Checkmates (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser)
1966
Judging by the gigs below for this year, rock artists played every Wednesday night. It also looks like (in most cases) another rock artist performed on both the Friday and Saturday nights later in the same week. Major stars were booked for Monday nights.
1 January – missing entry
5 January – missing entry
7-8 January – The Roosters (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
12 January – The Plain & Fancy (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
14-15 January – missing entry
Photo: Dave Harwood
17 January – The Kinks (Monday night) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Melody Maker)
Dave Harwood says that The Blades opened for The Kinks on 17 January – see comments section below
19 January – missing entry
21-22 January – The Just Five (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
The Balham and Tooting News & Mercury lists The Bipeds on 21-22 January
26 January – The Plain & Fancy (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
Photo: Dave Harwood. The Blades promotional photo (taken in the foyer of Streatham Silver Blades in late January 1966) with reference to East Anglian Scene in February suggesting the groups that appeared that month were from East Anglia.
28-29 January – The Blades (Dave Harwood’s memories)
2 February – missing entry
4-5 February – The High Set (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
According to Dave Harwood’s photo above, The High Set were most likely from East Anglia
6 February – Young at Heart (Sunday night) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
9 February – missing entry
Photo: Dave Harwood of The Blades showing Peter & The Spectres lined-up for 11-12 February 1966 (see Dave’s comments below)
11-12 February – Peter & The Spectres (Dave Harwood photo above)
According to Dave Harwood’s group photo above, Peter & The Spectres were most likely from East Anglia
14 February – The Overlanders (Melody Maker)
Dave Harwood says that The Blades opened for The Overlanders for 14 February – see comments section below
16 February – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)
I am missing many gigs over the following months and would welcome any additions with sources provided where possible. This is what I do have:
14 March – Tom Jones & The Squires (Monday night) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
28 March – Johnny Howard Band Show (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
6 April – Search for Sound (Four bands) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
18 April – The Small Faces (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
29-30 April – Some Other Guys (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Lewisham Borough News)
2 May – The Alan Price Set (Monday night) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
Dave Harwood says that The Blades opened for The Alan Price Set on 2 May – see comments section below
3-4 June – The Second City Sound (Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
10 June – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
11 June – The Soundtrekkers (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
18 June – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)
24-25 June – The New State Jazz Band (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
30 July – Search for Sound contest – winners were The Planet Set. Others included The Embers, The Low Limit and Sister Jill & The Bretheren and The Motivation (the original Norbury, south London version) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
4 August – The Monopoly (Thursday night) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
6 August – The Soul Survivors (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Lewisham Borough News)
11 August – The Associates (Thursday) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser and Lewisham Borough News)
12 August – The Waikiki Beach Boys (Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
13 August – The Associates (Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
26 August – The Second City Sound (Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
12 September – The Troggs (Fabulous 208 and Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
16-17 September – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
Lewisham Borough News lists Steve Brett & The Mavericks for 15 and 17 September (Thursday and Saturday rather than Friday and Saturday)
21 September – The Tea Set (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and Lewisham Borough News)
23-24 September – Giorgio & Marco’s Men (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
Lewisham Borough News lists Giorgio & Marco’s Men for 22 and 24 September (Thursday and Saturday rather than Friday and Saturday)
30 September – The New Jump Band (Bob Hodges’ diary)
1 October – The Ways and Means (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
5 October – The Little People (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
13 October – The Boys Blue (Thursday night) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
21 October – Napoleon XIV (Balham and Tooting News & Mercury)
2 December – The Bossmen (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
19 December – The Spencer Davis Group (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
31 December – The Escorts (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser, Balham and Tooting News & Mercury and also Lewisham Borough News)
1967
Judging by the gigs below for this year, rock artists played every Wednesday night. It also looks like (in most cases) another rock artist performed on the Friday and Saturday nights later in the same week. Major stars were booked for Monday nights.
I am missing a lot of entries for this year and would welcome any additions with sources provided, where possible.
12 January – The Night Revels and The Second City Sounds (Thursday night) (Clapham Advertiser)
13 January – Timebox with Richard Henry (Clapham Advertiser)
14 January – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Clapham Advertiser)
20 January – The Bystanders (Clapham Advertiser)
21 January – The End (Clapham Advertiser)
27-28 January – The Bobcats (Clapham Advertiser)
3-4 February – The Smoke (Clapham Advertiser)
11-12 February – The Images (Clapham Advertiser)
13 February – Wayne Fontana (Monday night) (Clapham Advertiser)
17 February – The Second City Sound (Clapham Advertiser)
18 February – The New Jump Band (Clapham Advertiser)
24-25 February – The Mud (Clapham Advertiser)
4 March – The Fireballs (Clapham Advertiser)
11 March – The London area final of the National Search for Sound contest with four groups: The Mud and others, including Solomon’s Mines and The Next Collection (Allan Devon’s recollections and Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
17 March – The Bystanders (Clapham Advertiser)
18 March – The Next Move (Clapham Advertiser)
24-25 March – The Pebbles (Clapham Advertiser)
31 March – The Second City Sound (Clapham Advertiser)
1 April – National Group Final of the Search for Sound (eight finalists from over 1,000 entries with £1,500 prize money) (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
7 April – The Jet Set (Clapham Advertiser)
8 April – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Clapham Advertiser)
14-15 April – The Bobcats (Clapham Advertiser)
21 April – The Bystanders (Clapham Advertiser)
22 April – The City Smoke (Clapham Advertiser)
29 April – The Images (Clapham Advertiser)
8 May – The Move (Monday night) (Fabulous 208 and Croydon Advertiser)
12 May – The Fire of London (Croydon Advertiser) who replaced The Ways and Means (Clapham Advertiser)
13 May – The Count 4 (Croydon Advertiser and Clapham Advertiser)
19 May – Edwick Rumbold (Clapham Advertiser)
20 May – The City Smoke (Clapham Advertiser)
26 May – The Mud (Croydon Advertiser)
There is a possibility that The Next Collection also played on 26 May
27 May – The Next Generation (Clapham Advertiser)
29 May – The Herd (Monday night) (Fabulous 208)
5 June – The Dixielanders (Monday night) (Clapham Advertiser and Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
9 June – The Fireballs (Clapham Advertiser)
10 June – The Hububs (Clapham Advertiser)
12 June – The Small Faces (Monday night) (Fabulous 208)
16 June – The End (Clapham Advertiser)
17 June – John Collier Night (Clapham Advertiser)
23-24 June – The Bobcats (Clapham Advertiser)
30 June – The Pitiful (Clapham Advertiser)
The Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser lists The Formula 4 for 30 June
10 July – The Original Drifters (Monday night) (Croydon Advertiser and Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
24 July – The Herd (Monday night) (Fabulous 208, Croydon Advertiser and Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
7 August – The Tremeloes (Monday night) (Croydon Advertiser)
13 August – The Konrads (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
26 August – The Ironsides (Croydon Advertiser)
28 August – The Human Instinct (Croydon Advertiser)
4 September – The Move (Croydon Advertiser)
The Beckenham & Penge Advertiser has The Herd on 4 September
15 September – Camino Real (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
16 September – The Uglies (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
2 October – The Small Faces (Monday night) (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
DJ Brian Wellsman says The Small Faces did not appear despite being advertised – see comments below
6 October – The Dove(s) (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
7 October – Jon (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
13 October – Keith Golden & The News Boys (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
14 October – The Calgary Stampede (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
20 October – Warren Davis Monday Band (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
23 October – The Move (Monday night) (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
DJ Brian Wellsman says The Move were booked after The Small Faces didn’t turn up on 2 October – see comments below
28 October – Mud (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
3-4 November – Derek Savage Foundation (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
6 November – Cream (Monday night) (Fabulous 208 and Clapham Advertiser)
10 November – The Krisis (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
11 November – The Next Collection (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
17 November – The New Jump Band (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
18 November – Cameron’s Impact (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
24 November – The Herd (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
Beckenham & Penge Advertiser has Dr Marigold’s Prescription on 24 November
25 November – The Konrads (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
1 December – The Mint Tulip (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
2 December – The Purple Dream (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
4 December – The Foundations (Monday night) (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
24 December – The Herd (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
1968
Judging by the gigs below for this year, rock artists played every Wednesday night. It also looks like (in most cases) another rock artist performed on both the Friday and Saturday nights later in the same week. Major stars were booked for Monday nights.
I am missing a lot of entries for this year and would welcome any additions with sources provided where possible.
1 January – The Bobcats (Monday night) (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
5-6 January – Mr Hip Soul Band (Clapham News)
12-13 January – Pandamonium (Clapham News)
2-3 February – Geranium Pond (Clapham News)
Keyboardist Steve Webber said that Geranium Pond played here a few times but Silver Blades was where the band played its final gig. They were just beginning to build a fan following when they disbanded.
9-10 February – Dr Marigold’s Prescription (Clapham News)
26 February – The Small Faces (Monday night) (Clapham News)
1-2 March – Skye Wine (Clapham News)
8-9 March – Jackson’s Overdrive (Clapham News)
18 March – Whistling Jack Smith (Monday night) (Clapham News)
22 March – Sunset Harp (Clapham News)
8 April – The Move (Monday night) (Clapham News)
22 April – The Small Faces (Clapham News)
29 April – Manfred Mann (Clapham News)
20 May – Bill Haley & The Comets (Clapham News andMelody Maker)
21 June – Miston Tuac (Clapham News)
22 June – Fire (Clapham News)
6 July – The Dove(s) (Clapham News)
12-13 July – The Code (Clapham News)
22 July – The Greatest Show on Earth (Monday night) (Clapham News)
26-27 July – British Mad (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
2 August – Raw Material (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
3 August – Jackson’s Playground (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
16 August – Toast (Clapham News)
17 August – Eight Miles High (Clapham News)
26 August – The Mindbenders (Monday night) (Clapham News)
6-7 September – Tangerine Jam (Clapham News)
9 September – The Greatest Show on Earth (Monday night) (Clapham News)
23 September – The Equals (Monday night) (Clapham News and Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
4-5 October – Renaissance Fair (Clapham News)
11 October – Mint Tulip (Clapham News)
12 October – Tekneek (Clapham News)
21 October – Amen Corner (Monday night) (Clapham News, Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser and NME)
25 October – Toast (Clapham News)
11 November – Greatest Show on Earth (Monday night) (Clapham News)
15-16 November – Avlon (Clapham News)
22-23 November – Killing Floor (Clapham News)
2 December – The Love Affair (Monday night) (Clapham News)
1969
I am missing a lot of entries for this year and would welcome any additions with sources provided where possible
2 February – Forever Changes (Barry Sinfield recollections)
3 February – The Move (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
21 March – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
25 April 1969 – Bell Sebastian (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
26 April 1969 – Candy Bus (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
5 May – Amen Corner (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
4 July 1969 – The Pentagon (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
5 July 1969 – The Karl-G-Band (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
11 July 1969 – The Raw Material (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
18 July 1969 – The Fire (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
19 July 1969 – The Zoo (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
31 August 1969 – Bill Haley & The Comets (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser) Vanity Fayre replaced Bill Haley
5 September 1969 – Sir Percy Quintet (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
Hedgehoppers in 1971, left to right: Alan Avon, Bill Honeyman, Colin Turner (and front) Mick Matthews
Tony Kaye (guitar, vocals) John Askey (bass) Dave Birkenhead (organ) Bill Honeyman (drums)
1967
October Original Hedgehoppers Anonymous lead singer Mick Tinsley and drummer Glenn Martin (who has joined after the top five success of “It’s Good News Week”) have participated in a swansong tour of Sweden and Lapland with bass player Howard Livett and guitarist Ian Atkinson.
(6)During their Scandinavian trip, the quartet play at the Cue Club in Gothenburg on a bill that also features Stoke-on-Trent band, The Colour Supplement. Singer Phil Tunstall will join a new version of Hedgehoppers Anonymous in December 1968. Comprised of guitarist Mick Nixon, bass player Paul Stevenson, drummer Ricky Ballan and future Climax Blues Band keyboard player George Glover, The Colour Supplement play another Swedish date with Hedgehoppers Anonymous, and further shows with The Troggs, before returning to the UK later in the month.
November On their return to England, Tinsley and Martin disband Hedgehoppers Anonymous. Tinsley establishes a solo career while Martin replaces Bill Honeyman in Sandie Shaw’s backing band, The Streamliners, which also comprises lead guitarist/singer Tony Kaye, organist Dave Birkenhead and bass player John Askey. Kaye, who began as a frontman with early 1960s Stoke-on-Trent band, The Huckleberries forms The Shandykins Four in October 1965. The following month, The Shandykins Four were chosen as Sandie Shaw’s permanent backing band and become The Streamliners. Askey and Birkenhead, who has previously played with Chris Ryan & The Crescents, The Scorpions and The Times, join The Streamliners in 1966. The group, however, will also use The Hedgehoppers Anonymous name for gigs.
NME, November 26, 1965
December Phil Tunstall’s band, The Colour Supplement had travelled to Germany during November and spent about a month playing at the Star Club in Hamburg where they meet Ritchie Blackmore (soon to return to the UK and form Roundabout, which morphs into Deep Purple). The band then plays the Storyville Clubs in Cologne and Frankfurt for about a month before returning to Britain.
(30)Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at the Public Hall, Preston, Lancashire with The Atlantics, The Four Crestas and The Blue Notes.
The Colour Supplement, Phil Tunstall at topThe Colour Supplement, Phil Tunstall in front
1968
January Sandie Shaw & The Streamliners appear at the MIDEM Festival in Cannes, France.
February After Martin leaves Sandie Shaw’s band, The Streamliners, Tony Kaye brings in Roger Keay briefly before former member, Scots-born drummer Bill Honeyman rejoins. Honeyman is a veteran of popular Stoke-on-Trent R&B band, The Marauders having started out in Alan Avon & The Presidents with future Hedgehoppers’ singer Alan Avon, guitarist Peter Birch, bass player Brian Birch and sax player Tony Bennett.
March With the original Hedgehoppers Anonymous defunct, Kaye decides to take over the name and put together an entirely new version of the band. According to the Burton Daily Mail, the new version appears at the 76 Club, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire on 10 March.
(3) Phil Tunstall’s band, The Colour Supplement appear at the Blue Ball, Risley, Staffordshire.
April(10) The Hedgehoppers Anonymous appears at the Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire.
(11)Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the Crystal Ballroom in Stoke-on-Trent.
(12) The Colour Supplement begin a second Swedish tour.
Sandie Shaw & The Streamliners, 5 May 1968
May(12)After a disastrous tour, The Colour Supplement return to the UK and play their first show back on home soil at the Bull’s Head, Hanford.
(16)The Tony Kaye-led Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at the Crystal Ballroom in Stoke-on-Trent.
(22) The Colour Supplement play at the Bull’s Head, Hanford.
(30) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at Longlands College, James Finegan Hall, Eston, Middlesbrough with The Lemon Tree and The Georgian Quintet.
June(1)After playing the Northern club scene for a few months, Hedgehoppers Anonymous are billed to appear at the Union Rowing Club in Nottingham but are replaced at the last minute by Legacy after it’s announced the band has split up. In reality, John Askey has left to join future Hedgehoppers’ singer Alan Avon’s new band, The Toyshop with Roger Jones and Tony Todd. Colin Turner from The King Pins (who have been working as The Ivy League’s backing band) takes over on bass. Turner joined the Manchester band in late 1966 prior to its relocation to the Stoke-on-Trent area and its signing with the Keith Fisher agency. He also appeared on the band’s final single for Columbia in 1967, “Summer’s Come and Gone” c/w “Another Tear Falls”.
The King Pins with Colin Turner, Star Club promo, Germany, late 1966.
(3) The Colour Supplement appear at the Basford Coronation Club in Basford, Staffordshire.
(12) Tunstall’s group return to the Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire.
(17) The Colour Supplement play at the Filleybrooke Hotel in Stone, Staffordshire.
(19)Phil Tunstall’s band The Colour Supplement appear at the Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire.
(21) The new Hedgehoppers Anonymous line up with Colin Turner appears at Bradford University with Fleetwood Mac, Blossom Toes and The Amboy Jukes.
(23) The Colour Supplement appear at the Clayton Lodge in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire.
July(24)Phil Tunstall’s band The Colour Supplement play at the Bull’s Head, Hanford.
August(7) Alan Avon (who will replace Tunstall in Hedgehoppers in 1970) makes an appearance at Bucknall Workingmen’s club in Bucknall, Staffordshire with his band Toyshop.
(14) The Toyshop play at the Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire.
(21)The Colour Supplement perform at the Bull’s Head, Hanford.
(29) Alan Avon’s band, The Toyshop appear at the Bull’s Head in Hanford.
September(6)Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire.
(18)Alan Avon’s band The Toyshop appear at the Bull’s Head, Hanford.
(26) The Toyshop perform at the Steelman’s club in Stoke-on-Trent.
(29)Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at Mr Smith’s in Hanley, Staffordshire.
October(4) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the Forest Folk Hotel in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire. Immediately afterwards, lead guitarist/singer Mick Matthews (b. 18 December 1946, Knutton, Staffordshire) joins the line up after impressing the band with his song “My Friend John Carter The Kind Magician”. Matthews, who started out in The Telstars, has been playing with Harvey’s Team with singer Ian Riley and bass player Graeme Bates. The new Hedgehoppers Anonymous line up embarks on a four-week Scottish tour with Dave Berry & The Cruisers.
(9)Phil Tunstall’s band The Colour Supplement travel to the Birmingham area and play at the Mackadown, Kitts Green, West Midlands with The Passion Forest.
(11) Future Hedgehoppers’ singer Alan Avon’s band, The Toyshop appear at the Harold Clowes Hall in Bucknall, Staffordshire.
(23)The Colour Supplement perform at the Chesterfield Club in Castle Bromwich, West Midlands.
South African sleeve from early 1969 showing a short-lived lineup, photo taken November 1968 Left to right: Bill Honeyman, Mick Matthews, Colin Turner and Dave Birkenhead
November Kaye, who wants to concentrate on a management role for the band, drops out and Matthews take over lead vocal duties briefly until Phil Tunstall joins from The Colour Supplement in December. Kaye’s sons will later write for Robbie Williams.
December Future Hedgehoppers’ singer Alan Avon’s band, The Toyshop record a lone single for Polydor Records – the Carter/Lewis penned “Say Goodbye To Yesterday” c/w guitarist Tony Todd’s “Send My Love To Lucy”. John Askey leaves after this recording and Maurice Cope takes over on bass.
After arriving in South Africa, March, 1969 Article from the Natal Mercury
1969
January Hedgehoppers Anonymous are invited to play a three-month residency at Tiles nightclub in Durban, South Africa but Dave Birkenhead is unable to participate in the South African tour and stays behind to join The Look Twice Band.
February Decca re-releases Hedgehoppers Anonymous’ second single “Don’t Push Me” in South Africa with a picture sleeve featuring the short-lived line up from November 1968 depicting Honeyman, Matthews, Turner and Birkenhead.
(26) Remaining members – Phil Tunstall, Mick Matthews, Bill Honeyman and Colin Turner arrive in Durban to be feted as rock royalty.
March Hedgehoppers Anonymous start a three-month residency at Tiles nightclub. After playing a huge concert at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium, they are invited to extend the Tiles residency until August.
August Following their resounding success at Tiles, Hedgehoppers Anonymous move on to Johannesburg where they hold down a residency at the 19th Level nightclub. Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the club for three months before embarking on a short tour of Rhodesia where they appear at the Stork Club in Bulawayo and the city’s town hall.
December Hedgehoppers Anonymous return to Johannesburg to play another residency at the 19th Level nightclub before working at the Underground club below the Hotel Continental.
Left to right: Bill, Mick, Phil and Colin in 1970, shortly before Phil Tunstall’s tragic death. Photo by Barry Oliver
1970
January Hedgehoppers Anonymous sign a deal with the Highveld label to record three tracks.
March Linked with producer Tony Gibson, the group records Matthews’s “Mary Mary” backed by a beat version of Eric Morris’s “Humpty Dumpty”, which has been blended with an indigenous kwela sound, for their debut single. They also record the Matthews-Tunstall-Turner collaboration, “The Man Upstairs”.
April(10) Future Hedgehoppers’ singer Alan Avon’s band, The Toyshop play at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
May(30)Hedgehoppers Anonymous are billed to appear at a huge rock festival to be held at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg to mark Republic Day on Monday, 31 May alongside The Bats, Omega Limited, Sounds of Brass, The Rising Sons, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The First Acquaintance, Hawk and The Staccatos but Tunstall is killed in a road accident on the eve of the show.
June Devastated by their loss, Matthews, Honeyman and Turner return to the UK and go their separate ways. Over the next six months, Matthews works with a band in Germany before Honeyman contacts him about returning to South Africa where there is a demand for the band.
July In their absence, Highveld releases “Mary Mary” c/w “Humpty Dumpty” as a single, which peaks at #15 on the South African LM radio chart. Producer Tony Gibson has set up his own label Tojo with his wife Jo and in August issues “The Man Upstairs” backed by an instrumental version of the song entitled “The Man Downstairs” but it does not chart.
December The remaining members add singer Alan Dutton (aka Alan Avon), who has played with Honeyman during the early 1960s in Alan Avon & The Presidents and until recently was lead singer with Alan Avon & The Toyshop. Avon’s band has toured extensively throughout the UK and recorded the collectable single “These Are The Reasons” c/w “Night To Remember” for the Concord label.
1971, left to right: Mick, Colin, Alan and Bill1971, left to right: Mick Matthews, Colin Turner, Alan Avon and Bill Honeyman
1971
January To avoid any potential legal problems with Jonathan King who still owns the name, they drop the Anonymous tag and become Hedgehoppers.
February(27)Billboard magazine announces that Hedgehoppers have returned to South Africa after a spell in London. The revised line up resumes gigging at the Underground nightclub where they are booked for three months. Producer Tony Gibson’s Tojo label records a lone single combining two strong Matthews numbers – “A Song For Pete”, inspired by English guitarist Pete Clifford from The Bats (and one-time guitarist with Dusty Springfield’s band, The Echoes), and “Here’s To The Morning Sun”.
April The band opens Samantha’s, a new nightclub in Johannesburg. While there, Gibson negotiates a deal with CBS which allows the band to record an album mixing Matthews’ originals with covers of Buffalo Springfield’s “Rock ‘N’ Roll Woman” and George Gershwin’s “Summertime”. (4) “A Song For Pete” on Tojo peaks at #5 on the LM Radio hit parade.
June Having given the others notice that he’ll be returning to the UK after their six-month contract is up, Avon completes a nationwide tour taking in Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Cape Town, Upington and Windhoek.
July After Avon returns to the UK in late July, Hedgehoppers bring in new singer, the late Andy Ionnides from Suck, who joins the band for a three-month residency at the Coq D’Or in Salisbury, Rhodesia.
August(29) “Hey!” recorded with Avon on lead vocals, backed by the non-album “My Friend John Carter The King Magician”, featuring Matthews on lead vocals, hits #2 on the LM Radio hit parade and tops the Rhodesian charts.
September(17) “Hey” peaks at #9 on the Springbok Radio hit parade.
October(2)Billboard magazine reports that Hedgehoppers are touring Rhodesia. After the tour finishes this month, keyboard player and singer Rupert Mellor from The First Aquaintence takes over from Ionnides. Hedgehoppers return to Samantha’s and hold down a residency until the end of the year. While there, the band records three new Mick Matthews’s songs for Parlophone Records – “I’m On My Way Ma”, “Blue, Blue, Blue” and “Young Man On The Road”, all featuring Matthews on lead vocals.
November “Blue, Blue, Blue” backed by “I’m On My Way Ma” is released.
1972
March(4)Shortly after watching their beloved Stoke City beat Chelsea in the League Cup final at Wembley, Matthews leaves the band and returns to the UK. He later returns to South Africa and forms Ballyhoo, who will have significant success in the 1970s. Hedgehoppers carries on as a trio and back Wellington Count Judge on the Mojo single “Noma Kunjalo” c/w “Salani” as The Cool Cats. A few months later, Honeyman is killed in a road accident and the band splits with Turner returning to the UK.
From left: Alan Avon, Bill Honeyman (in back with glasses), Mick Matthews and Colin Turner. Photo by Gavin Furlonger
Sources:
I Started Out To Write A Song, by Mick Matthews and Adrian English (awaiting publication). Strange Brew – Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970, by Christopher Hjort, Jawbone Press, 2007 Tapestry of Delights Revisited by Vernon Joynson, Borderline Productions, 2006.
Information on the King Pins from the Starclub Hamburg site. The photo montage is their copyright.
Live dates sourced from Melody Maker, Birmingham Evening Mail, The Evening Sentinel, Nottingham Evening Post, Middlesbrough Evening Gazette.
Many thanks to Mick Matthews, Alan Avon, George Glover, Tertius Louw, Marq Vas, Benjy Mudie and Gavin Furlonger. Thank you to George Glover, Mike Nixon and Paul Stevenson for passing on details about The Colour Supplement, to Joe Toriati for the photos of this band and to Marq Vas for 45 label scans.
Thank you to Mick Matthews and Benjy Mudie at Fresh for permission to use the Hedgehoppers’ tracks. Keep an eye on Fresh Music’s website for the forthcoming Hedgehoppers CD: www.freshmusic.co.za
Mick Matthews and Adrian English’s I Started Out To Write A Song is awaiting publication.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
1965, from left: Mick Tinsley, Alan Laud, John Stewart, Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash
Mike Tinsley (vocals) John Stewart (lead guitar, vocals) Tony Cockayne (rhythm guitar) Ray Honeyball (bass) Leslie Dash (drums)
1963
November Former Electrons lead singer Mike Tinsley (b. 16 December 1940, Portsmouth, Hants), guitarists John Stewart (b. 18 March 1941, Torphins, Kincardineshire, Scotland) and Tony Cockayne; bass player Ray Honeyball (b. 6 June 1941, Whickham, County Durham) and drummer Leslie Dash (b. 3 April 1943, Hillingdon, Middlesex) are all Royal Air Force ground crew based at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, England. Captivated by the beat scene exploding in the UK, they decide to form a band, The Trendsetters. The quintet performs initially in the officers’ mess at RAF Wittering but then ventures out, debuting at the White Lion pub in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. After receiving a positive reception, they play at the Dorothy Ballroom and the Corn Exchange in Cambridge.
1964
The band changes its name to The Hedgehoppers; a nickname for the “V” bombers, which can fly a few hundred feet above the ground, under enemy radar to avoid detection and ground-to-air missiles. A local agent spots The Hedgehoppers playing the local pub scene and arranges live gigs to showcase the band at weekends. By June, The Hedgehoppers have opened for Unit Four Plus Two, The Hollies and The Kinks among others.
November (22) The Hedgehoppers make their first appearance in Cambridge, playing at the Alley.
December (26) The band performs at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Cascades.
1965
February (7) The Hedgehoppers play at the Alley Club in Cambridge.
March (6) The Hedgehoppers appear at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.
(14) The band returns to the Alley Club for another show.
April(1) The group performs at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.
(17) The Hedgehoppers open for The Primitives at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge.
May (8) The group plays at the Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge.
(22) The Hedgehoppers open for Brian Poole & The Tremeloes at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge.
July (3) The band returns for another show at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.
(17) The Hedgehoppers appear at the Dorothy Ballroom in Cambridge with Bob Ludman and His Orchestra, The Seminoles and Ben Elliot and The Klan. Alan Laud (b. 13 March 1946, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire), who is a civilian living near the RAF base takes over from Cockayne on rhythm guitar after meeting the musicians in a local pub.
August The Hedgehoppers are playing at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge when they are spotted by Trinity College student Kenneth King (aka Jonathan King), who is working as a producer for Decca Records through his own company “Jonathan King Enterprises”. The aspiring producer is about to release the single “Everyone’s Gone To The Moon” under his recording name Jonathan King and approaches The Hedgehoppers to see if they will record another of his songs – “It’s Good News Week”. King, who is keener on becoming a producer than a singer, suggests that they add the Anonymous tag so that they can keep their fan base but protect their anonymity from the RAF, which is unaware of the recording. The band records “It’s Good News Week” under the musical direction of Arthur Greenslade, who adds session players, including guitarist “Big” Jim Sullivan, to back Tinsley on the track.
(14) Still billed as The Hedgehoppers, they play at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.
September King’s tongue-in-cheek protest song, “It’s Good News Week” backed by “Afraid of Love” is released. The single’s success generates a huge amount of publicity but also creates problems with the RAF, which has not given the musicians the proper authority to find employment outside the Armed Forces. Hedgehoppers Anonymous make their debut TV appearance on ITV’s Ready Steady Go! They also appear on BBC TV’s Top of The Pops to plug the single.
(11) Billed as The Hedgehoppers, they play at the Victoria Ballroom in Cambridge.
West End Promotion Ad, New Musical Express, October 1965
October Tinsley successfully submits an application to the RAF for a discharge.
(1) Still billed as The Hedgehoppers, they appear at Bassingbourn Village College, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire with The Hornets.
(15)NME reports that Dash, Honeyball and Stewart have applied to the RAF for a discharge but it is not known whether these will be accepted. Behind the scenes, London session musician Glenn Martin (b. 22 January 1946, Wembley Park, Middlesex), who is the resident drummer at the Ad-Lib club and has been playing with Ayshea Brough, takes over from Leslie Dash for live gigs while the drummer tries to gain a discharge.
Tour dates announced, New Musical Express, October 15, 1965
(29) With Martin onboard, the new line up plays at the YOR Club, Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Boys in support . On the same day, NME reports that the future of Hedgehoppers Anonymous is still in the balance as it is uncertain whether Dash, Honeyball and Stewart’s applications will be accepted. Soon after, Stewart successfully gains a release from the RAF. Meanwhile, the group is forced to turn down an offer to join the Gene Pitney tour because of the travelling involved.
Opportunity to open for Gene Pitney lost New Musical Express, October 29, 1965
(30) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at Altrincham Stamford Hall in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
(31) The group makes an appearance at Peter Stringfellow’s Sheffield Mojo club, Yorkshire.
November(2) The band performs on Rediffusion’s Five O’Clock Funfair.
(3) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the Kingston Cellar in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
(4) They perform at the Swindon Locarno Ballroom in Swindon, Wiltshire.
(5) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at Leighton Baths, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.
(6) “It’s Good News Week” peaks at UK #5 and also reaches #48 in the US Billboard chart. On the same day, the band are billed to appear at Rawtenstall Astoria, Rawtenstall, Lancashire.
(7) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at the Carlton in Slough, Berkshire.
(8) The following day, the band plays at the Atalanta Ballroom in Woking, Surrey.
(10) Following a show at High Wycombe Town Hall the previous day, the group performs at the Stevenage Locarno in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
(11) They perform at Wisbech Rose and Crown, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
(13) The Grantham Journal lists the band appearing at Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire with Them Dogs and The Scene.
(16) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at an All-nighter session at the Cavern in Liverpool with The Baskerville Hounds, The Verbs, The Drifting Sands, The Richmond Group, The Dresdens, The Almost Blues, The Harpos, The Masterminds and The Fourmost.
(18) The band plays at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London.
Leslie and Ray go “part-time”New Musical Express, November 26, 1965
(26)NME reports that Dash and Honeyball are likely to be temporarily replaced because their applications to buy themselves out of the RAF have been turned down a second time. The magazine goes on to say that Dash and Honeyball will return to RAF Wittering today and their availability for appearances – as close as next week – is still uncertain. The band’s agent Chris Peers tells NME that the two musicians will work on as many dates as possible, but for some bookings replacements will have to be brought in. Behind the scenes, however, Dash decides not to continue with the band and will later move out to South Africa where he currently resides. Glenn Martin takes over but will not be officially announced as Dash’s replacement until December. On the same day, the band appears Hillside Ballroom, Hereford with The Alan Walker Group .
1965, from left: Ray Honeyball, Alan Laud, Mick Tinsley, and John Stewart
December Decca rush releases a second single to capitalise on the success of “It’s Good News Week” but the Kenneth King written “Don’t Push Me” c/w “Please Don’t Hurt Your Heart for Me” sells poorly. Like Dash, Ray Honeyball cannot get a release from the RAF. Former Von Dykes bass player Lee Jackson is brought in and put on a retainer. The idea is that he will fill in for Honeyball whenever the bass player cannot honour an engagement. While on a retainer, Jackson plays some shows with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Lineup after late ’65, from left: Tom Fox, Glenn Martin, Mike Tinsley, Alan Laud and John Stewart
(1) The band plays at Stourbridge Town Hall, Stourbridge, West Midlands.
(2) Hedgehoppers Anonymous perform at the Blue Moon club in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with The Alan Walker Group.
(3) They appear at Trowbridge Town Hall in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
(4) The group plays Redhill Market Hall in Redhill, Surrey.
Photo: Boyfriend, 4 December 1965
(6) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at Bridgewater Town Hall, Bridgewater, Somerset.
(8) They play at Kidderminster Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
(11) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at Nelson Imperial in Nelson, Lancashire.
(12) The group plays a show at Manchester Oasis club.
(16) The band appears at the Pier Pavilion in Worthing, West Sussex.
Keith Jackson and Glen Martin replace Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash, New Musical Express, December 17, 1965
(17)NME announces that Keith Jackson and Glenn Martin have formally replaced Ray Honeyball and Leslie Dash who have been unable to obtain discharges from the RAF.
(22)Record Mirror announces the new line up, introducing Lee Jackson. However, Jackson only appears in a few publicity photos before finding work elsewhere. He subsequently joins Gary Farr & The T-Bones and then The Nice. Londoner Tom Fox takes over on bass from The Beat Boys and Barry Edwards and The Semi-Tones.
(27) The group plays at Bath Pavilion, according to Western Scene.
1966
January Having signed up to Chris Peers Promotions the previous year, the new line up starts to pick up steady work around the country.
(15) Boyfriend magazine lists the group appearing at the George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire.
(21-26) Boyfriend magazine reports that the band is touring Scotland.
(29)Boyfriend magazine has the group playing at the Town Hall in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.
April Martin suggests that Hedgehoppers Anonymous cut a version of Chip Taylor’s “Wild Thing”, which is recorded and prepared for release. However, according to Martin, Kenneth King is not convinced about the song’s merit and persuades the musicians to record “Baby (You’re My Everything)” (a Little Jerry Williams ballad that Jonathan King had the rights to) instead. Shortly afterwards, The Troggs top the charts with their own version of “Wild Thing”, allegedly after hearing Hedgehoppers Anonymous’ unreleased version. However, Jonathan King relates “the demo of Wild Thing was first played to me by the publishers; I loved the song and allowed the guys to play on it but their version wasn’t even as good as the demo so I passed and the song was given to Larry Page who produced it with the Troggs.”
(22) The Southend Standard lists the band playing at the Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with Bubbles & Co.
Photo: Mirabelle, 23 April 1966 issue
May Having appeared on ITV’s Ready Steady Go! Hedgehoppers Anonymous return with a third single, “Baby (You’re My Everything)” c/w “Remember”. The band’s poppy sound, however, increasingly sounds dated, and the single does not chart.
June(10) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at the California Ballroom, Dunstable with The Felders.
(11)Melody Maker reports that Mick Tinsley has been ordered to rest for a week after being injured by fans at the Star Rink Ballroom, West Hartlepool last weekend. The band appears on BBC Radio’s Saturday Club this weekend.
July(23) They appear at St Mary’s Hall in Bognor Regis, West Sussex with Listen.
August(26) The band moves towards a more harder-edge rock sound, which culminates in the mod/freakbeat classic “Daytime” which is backed by “That’s The Time”. Unfortunately, the single is not a chart success. “Daytime” is an adaption of Les 5 Gentlemen’s “Dis-Nous Dylan” (originally co-written by Jean Fredenucci of Les 5 Gentlemen and T. Saunders) with English lyrics by John Stewart. Les 5 Gentlemen also record “Daytime” with Stewart’s lyrics for a release on the Major Minor label as Darwin’s Theory.
September(10) Hedgehoppers Anonymous record for BBC Radio’s Saturday Club with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, The Fortunes and Glen Dale.
Photo: Mirabelle, 15 October 1966 issue
October The band plays at the Lyceum Ballroom in London on a bill that includes Tom Jones.
(12) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at Tiles nightclub on Oxford Street in central London with The Excels.
(15) The band plays at Leyton Baths Hall, Leyton, east London with The Plague.
(22) Hedgehoppers Anonymous play at Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford with The Day-Stroms and The Tone Benders.
November(26) The band appears at Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Kingpins.
December(9) Final single Alan Laud’s “Stop Press” c/w “Little Memories” is another chart failure.
(17) Hedgehoppers Anoymous perform at Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks with The Addix.
(23) The band appears Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Zombies and The Teen Team.
1967
January(6) The band plays at the Winter Gardens, Droitwich, Worcestershire.
(7) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear at the Marine Ballroom, Morecambe Pier, Lancashire.
New Musical Express, January 14, 1967
(14)NME reports that the current Hedgehoppers Anonymous will split up on 11 February but that Martin and Fox are planning to form a new group, which will probably use the same name. On the same day, Mike Tinsley releases his debut solo single, “Let It Be Me”, produced by Kenneth King, on Decca. The publication also announces that Alan Laud and John Stewart will be forming a trio with ex-Overlanders’ member Terry Widlake but the collaboration never happens. Alan Laud later moves to Spain where he runs a bar in Torremolinos while John Stewart, who is intent on pursuing a career as a songwriter, subsequently relocates to the United States. He currently works in a recording studio in Tennessee. Rather than keep the Hedgehoppers Anonymous name going, Glenn Martin and Tom Fox get a job with blues singer Kenny Barnard, who is opening at the Bag O’Nails club after resident band The Peddlers have moved on.
(22) Martin (on his 21st birthday) and Fox back Kenny Barnard at the Bag O’Nails club. Soon after The Peddlers return to the Bag O’Nails and Barnard’s band finds itself without any work. The musicians go their separate ways. Tom Fox disappears from the music scene but allegedly commits suicide years later.
February (2) The band is advertised to play at the Embassy Suite, Thursday Club, Colchester, Essex with Hap and Unit 4.
(11) Hedgehoppers Anonymous officially disbands.
March Having moved to Halifax, West Yorkshire in February, Martin revives The Hedgehoppers Anonymous name and brings in lead guitarist Ian Atkinson from The Morton Fraser Harmonica Gang. Atkinson recommends his friend from Leeds, bass player Howard Livett. Keyboard player Vincent Crane joins for a few gigs but soon leaves to form The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Atkinson contacts his friend organist/singer Chris Lazenby, who has previously worked with the guitarist in Bradford band, The Del Rio 4. They also recruit a second lead guitar player from Oldham. The new version mixes band originals – “It’s Good News Week”, “Don’t Push Me” and “Daytime” with covers material.
Hedgehoppers, summer 67 photo with Pete, Ian Atkinson, Glenn Martin, Chris Lazenby and Howard Livett
April The new line up embarks on a busy schedule of nation-wide gigs that takes in venues as far flung as Glasgow and Leicester.
August Lazenby and the second lead guitarist depart when Martin convinces original singer Mick Tinsley to return to front the band. Lazenby joins the house band at Butlins in Minehead and reunites with Glenn Martin in 1970 when their band works the summer and winter seasons at the Butlins Hotels in Cliftonville near Margate, Kent.
(25) With Tinsley back onboard, the band performs at the Boogaloo, Castleford, West Yorkshire with The Move.
September (16) Hedgehoppers Anonymous appear the Top Spot Ballroom, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Knack .
Sweden, 1967, from left: Ian Atkinson, Mick Tinsley, Glenn Martin and Howard Livett
October Hedgehoppers Anonymous featuring Mick Tinsley, Glenn Martin, Howard Livett and Ian Atkinson embark on a short tour of Sweden and Lapland.
(6) While playing at the Cue Club in Gothenburg, Stoke-on-Trent band The Colour Supplement open the show. The band’s singer Phil Tunstall will join a new, completely unrelated, version of Hedgehoppers Anonymous in December 1968.
Swedish tour, 1967, from left: Mick Tinsley, Howard Livett, Glenn Martin and Ian Atkinson
(18) Liseberg Pop In Club in Gothenburg.
November On their return to the UK, Tinsley resumes a solo career. He later becomes a co-writer for songs covered by Joe Dolan and Kelly Marie. In the late 1960s/early 1970s, Livett works on the Mecca scene with the band Huckleberry and spends over 10 years playing the Leeds City Varieties but passes away in August 2005. Martin joins Sandie Shaw’s backing group, The Streamliners, featuring Stoke-on-Trent musicians Tony Kaye (guitar), Dave Birkenhead (organ) and John Askey (bass). While with Sandie Shaw & The Streamliners, Martin will appear at the MIDEM Festival in Cannes in January 1968. When Martin leaves The Streamliners in February, Tony Kaye decides to use the Hedgehoppers Anonymous name for a new, completely unrelated, band, which with a modified line up will continue into the early 1970s, recording in South Africa as Hedgehoppers. Mick Tinsley sings “Wrap Me in Love” co-written with Peter Hawkins of Pickettywitch as a soloist for the UK at the Yamaha World Song Festival in Tokyo 1976. He co-writes songs with Peter Yellowstone for Joe Dolan and Kelly Marie.
2009
October Tinsley’s solo album My Surival is released on the British Academy Songwriters Composers Authors’ label. The album is produced by Tony Swain, who has previously worked with Spandau Ballet, Alison Moyet and Bananarma among others.
Mick Tinsley, May 2010
2010
June Prism Leisure Records re-release two CDs featuring Tinsley singing on the songs “Songs That Won The War” and “English Street Party” recorded in the 1990s. Glenn Martin, who has worked as a session drummer over the last 40 years is drum chair at the Surrey Jazz Orchestra.
December(4) Tinsley will be appearing at the Amersham Rock and Roll Club with Chris Farlowe, Vanity Fair, The Searchers and Honeybus.
Sources:
The Best of The Cellars – The Story of the Cavern Club by Phil Thompson, Tempus Publishing Limited, 2007. New Musical Express, 1 October 1965 (page 9), 15 October 1965 (pages 9 and 13), 29 October 1965 (pages 6, 9 and 10), 26 November 1965 (page 9), 17 December 1965 (page 6), 14 January 1967 (page 8).
Many thanks to Mick Tinsley, Glenn Martin, Jonathan King, Chris Lazenby, Mick Cockayne, Lee Jackson, Jenni Livett, Christopher Hjort, Tertius Louw, Paul Green and Tony Walter for providing further details. Thank you to Paul Tinsley for the photo of Mick Tinsley in May 2010. Thanks also to Samuel Coomans for one of the sleeve scans and to Hans Olof Gottfridsson.
Mike Tinsley’s “My Survival” is available on the BASCA Academy Recording Digital label and can be purchased on Amazon.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
